Southern Ming, my destiny is too abstract

Chapter 126 Zheng Yanping brought back the Crown Prince of Ming Dynasty?
Among the four emperors of the Southern Ming Dynasty, Hongguang was lustful, Longwu was ambitious, Shaowu was an actor, and Yongli escaped.

Each has its own characteristics and each has its own quirks.

The same thing is that they are all puppets supported by civil officials and warlords.

Zhu Yihai, the Prince of Lu, who was in charge of the country, was naturally also one of the puppets.

But he also has a destiny.

The Qing army entered the pass for the seventh time to plunder, attacked Yanzhou, and broke through the Prince of Lu's palace.

Zhu Yihai was captured by the Qing army and his identity was discovered. The Qing soldiers attacked him three times but missed, thinking that he should not die, so he escaped.

When the Southern Capital fell, uprisings broke out in various parts of Zhejiang Province to resist the Qing Dynasty. The civil and military officials who fled the Hongguang court naturally supported Zhu Yihai in Taizhou.

Zheng Yanping excluded the Lu vassal and even placed the Prince of Lu under house arrest.

In addition to the fact that his monarch was Longwu, who was at odds with the Lu vassal state, and the political vacancy in Jin and Xiamen left after Zheng Zhilong surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, Zheng Yanping had a conflict with Zheng Cai, who supported the King of Lu.

Another point is that Lu Fan is outside the desperate alliance of the remnant Ming Dynasty.

The vassal generals of the Dashi Army and the Dashun Army in the southwest, as well as the Ming generals in various provinces after the rebellion, all held up the Yongli flag of the Gui vassal state.

Even after the death of Zhu Changqing, the Prince of Huai whom he supported, Zheng Yanping himself, at the persuasion of the Little Prince of Tang, remotely served Emperor Yongli.

Only Lu Fan was determined to be independent.

Zhang Mingzhen even proposed the Longzhong Strategy of the Three Kingdoms coexisting, allowing the Lu vassal state to take root in the coastal areas, recruit talents from Zhejiang and Fujian, connect with the Joseon Dynasty and Japan, and let the Yongli regime delay the Qing army.

This led to the formation of a three-way division of the world among Lu, Gui and Dai Qing.

When the situation in Daiqing was stabilized, Lu Fan, who was no longer able to recover, turned to the increasingly powerful Zheng Yanping.

Based on past experience, Zheng Yanping, who was politically incompetent, chose to put Zhu Yihai under house arrest and keep him under strict supervision to prevent Lu Fan from backstabbing him.

As it turned out, Zheng Yanping was right.

……

Zhang Huangyan did not stay in Jinmen and Xiamen Islands to assist Zheng Jing who stayed behind to guard against the Qing army.

After Zhang Mingzhen was killed, Prince Lu was increasingly despised and mistreated by the Zheng family. In order to prevent his own troops from being annexed by Zheng Yanping, Zhang Huangyan took his troops to guard the outer islands of Quanzhou and remotely protect Prince Lu.

However, as Zheng Yanping, who had captured Yizhou, returned to Jinxia, ​​Zhang Huangyan, realizing that something big was about to happen, hurried to Wuzhou Island with his troops.

When he arrived at Prince Lu's mansion to pay his respects to his own prince, he had already heard the sound of artillery fire from Zheng Yanping's returning army attacking Haimen.

"Although Zheng Yanping is arrogant and domineering, he is still loyal to the Ming Dynasty and would never surrender to the Qing without permission."

Zhang Huangyan spoke up and said that although he and Zheng Yanping were a bit dirty.

But since the Jiashen Incident, the several forces still resisting the Qing Dynasty have all harbored hatred towards each other.

Apart from anything else, the Thirteen Families of Kuidong were the real culprits behind the destruction of the Ming Dynasty.

Now, the Thirteen Families are huddled in Kuidong, and the Dashi Army has fled to the wilderness. The only one who can truly restore the country is the short-sighted and stubborn Zheng Yanping.

Zhang Huangyan was very dissatisfied with Zheng Yanping, but in his heart he still believed that he was the greatest figure of all time.

Prince Lu Zhu Yihai nodded without comment.

Zheng Yanping was really crazy and wanted to surrender to the Qing Dynasty without notifying anyone.

At least they'll take him with them.

The Qing army once wanted to surrender Zheng Yanping and force him to hand over Prince Lu.

Zheng Yanping specifically sent Prince Lu to Nan'ao for refuge.

Someone nearby said, "Then what's the point of Zheng Yanping suddenly returning and attacking Haicheng alone? He can't even reach Zhangzhou, right?"

"Once Huang Wu joins forces with Geng Jimao to dispatch the Qing army, it will be difficult for Zheng Yanping to hold Haicheng."

The year before last, they sent out 200,000 troops, last year they sent 200,000 troops to fight against the Qing Dynasty, and this year they crossed the sea to attack Yizhou.

At present, Jinxia simply does not have enough food and money to support another war.

When Zheng Yanping gave up Yizhou, some were happy while others were sad. Now he has started a war again, and almost everyone is about to cry.

Zhang Huangyan pondered for a long time and said hesitantly, "Brother An Gong, could it be that Zheng Yanping wants to pressure Zheng Tai?"

Xu Fuyuan, courtesy name An Gong, is the great-grandson of Xu Zhi, the younger brother of Xu Jie, a famous minister of the Ming Dynasty. He first served in Longwu and later served Prince Lu. He is currently assisting Zheng Jing in garrisoning Wuzhou.

Xu Fuyuan frowned upon hearing this: "Although Zheng Tai had many objections to Prince Yanping's order, he still obeyed Zheng Yanping."

"Using the typhoon and ocean currents to block the road to delay the transportation of grain and fodder to Yizhou, Zheng Yanping and Zheng Jing had no choice but to accept this excuse."

"The distinguished generals in Kinmen, Xiamen, and Penghu have all been much more docile since Zheng Yanping's crushing defeat of the Qing army last year. They won't be tempted to start another internal conflict over these minor matters."

Prince Lu's residence was small, with more than ten people crowded in the study.

When Zhu Yihai fled from eastern Zhejiang to Minhai and completely attached himself to Zheng Yanping, he still had many ministers.

Outside, there were Zhang Mingzhen and Zhang Huangyan who held military power; inside, there were Taichang Qing Ren Tinggui, Taipu Qing Shen Wenguang and others.

It was also an independent small court.

The civil and military officials discussed the matter, but still did not understand Zheng Yanping's intention to attack Haicheng.

One can only guess that Zheng Yanping has gone completely crazy and wants to die.

Zhang Huangyan looked at the civil and military officials in the hall and said, "No matter what Zheng Yanping meant this time, did he listen to my words, 'I would rather advance an inch and die than retreat a foot and live', and wanted to become a hero?"

"But given the way they act, there will definitely be chaos in Kinmen and Xiamen."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Zheng Yanping ignored everyone's advice and insisted on attacking Yizhou.

It can be used as a foundation for national restoration or as an overseas retreat.

But since he has gone, he cannot come back unless he does some business.

If they did not bring back any food, Jinxia, ​​which had already been scorched earth by the Qing army and lacked food and money, would immediately fall into chaos, and many meritorious generals might choose to surrender to the Qing.

The southwest was defeated, the Qing Dynasty took over the world, and the Ming army in the southeast was on its last breath.

Zheng Yanping chose to advance eastward to Yizhou, but Yizhou had no fertile land and was also badly defeated by the Dutch and mountain barbarians.

Zheng Yanping did not open up wasteland and cultivate land to help the Ming army in the southeast survive.

The disintegration of the towns in Jinmen and Xiamen is imminent.

Zhang Huangyan said to the Prince of Lu in a serious tone: "Your Highness, the various towns in Minhai have been established, and the people are eager to return home."

"If Zheng Yanping cannot turn his flag back to the north, the Huang Wu incident will continue."

Zhu Yihai sighed and said, "After three years of forced conscription and a shortage of food and money, how can the Prince of Yanping launch a northern expedition in such a short time?"

Although he was under house arrest, he was still aware of the situation in Kinmen and Xiamen.

Zhang Huangyan said frankly, "It is precisely because of the shortage of food and money that Zheng Yanping was able to use strict military law to intimidate the generals in the past, but this is no longer possible now."

Without food and money, if Zheng Yanping continued to kill people to establish his authority, many people would run away.

As for whether Zheng Yanping, who returned empty-handed from Yizhou, should be killed or not.

That's obvious.

"Zheng Yanping cannot lead the Minhai generals, only Your Highness can do so."

When the ruler and his ministers of Lu heard Zhang Huangyan's words, they were all surprised.

Upon hearing this, Xu Fuyuan and others were stunned and overjoyed.

Zhu Yihai couldn't say he was happy, and said calmly, "Now I am living under someone else's command, how can I surpass Zheng Yanping to lead the generals?"

Zhang Huangyan bowed and said, "It is precisely because Zheng Yanping has lost the support of the people that His Highness needs to come and restore morale in the southeast."

"The only way is to win over the honorable officers of Minhai, quickly rectify the title, and march north in the name of orthodoxy."

These words showed that Zhang Huangyan supported Prince Lu to succeed the throne as regent and even to become emperor.

The civil and military officials of Lu clan looked at Zhang Huangyan in surprise and doubt. Xu Fuyuan and others had changing expressions, but they felt that Zhang Cangshui was right.

General Zheng Tai and other generals have already made their dissatisfaction with Zheng Yanping public.

Zheng Yanping failed in his attack on the Yi people and his prestige was greatly reduced.

Even if he attacked Haicheng immediately after returning, it would not be enough to make the towns continue to obey.

It’s not about retaking Zhangzhou or Quanzhou.

The fundamental dilemma of Kinmen and Xiamen has not been resolved.

Zheng Tai and others are 100% independent and the probability of a conflict with Zheng Yanping is also 50-50.

The coming to power of Prince Lu gave them the righteous cause to resist Zheng Yanping.

It could even allow some generals who wanted to surrender to the Qing to continue supporting the Ming Dynasty.

Just like the previous struggle for power between Zheng Cai and Zheng Yanping, now they had to rely on Zheng Tai. Zhu Yihai's forehead wrinkled into a river shape: "Xuanzhu, didn't you tell me to wait and see at the beginning of the year?"

After the failure of the Hongguang court, Zhu Yihai began to act as regent and almost became emperor at one point, but he did not want to compete with Longwu for the throne, so he always acted in the name of regent.

It was not until he was defeated twice in eastern Zhejiang and relied on Zheng Yanping that he gave up the title of Jianguo and attached himself to the Yongli court in the seventh year of the Yongli reign.

At that time, he had been regent for eight years.

Two years ago, when the southern capitals of Yunnan and Yunnan suffered a major defeat, Kunming fell, and Emperor Yongli fled in panic, he had a premonition that the foundation laid by his ancestors was in danger.

He issued a special imperial edict, ordering Prince Lu Zhu Yihai to continue to serve as regent.

When the Ming army in Minhai received the imperial order, Zheng Yanping naturally firmly opposed it and specially took Zhu Yihai to Penghu to isolate him from the outside.

He was sent back to Wuzhou only this year.

An official of the Yongli court arrived in Fujian and told them that the Yongli Emperor was really hunting in the wilderness in the south and his life or death was uncertain.

Eight years later, the civil and military officials of Lu Fan once again persuaded Zhu Yihai to become the regent and emperor.

Only Zhang Huangyan, considering the overall situation, asked Zhu Yihai to wait patiently for the opportunity and not set a target for Zheng Yanping to attack.

Zhang Huangyan continued to bow and said, "Back then, it was just a temporary measure. Now is the time for Your Highness to step in and win over the people."

"In terms of the national situation, the generals and soldiers all doubt that it will be difficult to restore the Han Dynasty; observing the hearts of the people, the generals and soldiers all hope to respect the Zhou Dynasty."

Zhang Huangyan bowed slightly and said: "In the past, I and the Minister of War Zhang Yuxi persuaded Your Highness to ascend the throne. You are also a descendant of Emperor Gao, and you should avenge your shame and inherit the throne."

"The same is true today."

Xu Fuyuan and others reacted one after another and bowed their heads to persuade him to go in.

"The national crisis is extreme, and it is time to return the mandate of heaven."

"How can the orthodoxy of China remain in vain for long?"

"Your Highness, please formulate a grand plan as soon as possible to continue the orthodoxy, win the hearts of the people, and achieve prosperity."

Zhu Yihai looked at Zhu Wenwu in the room, feeling a little dazed.

Sixteen years ago, a group of loyal and righteous people from the Ming Dynasty stood before him, hoping that he would govern the country and lead the remaining troops of the Zhejiang East Righteous Army.

Qian Sulue, Zhang Guowei, Wang Zhiren, Wang Ling, the Six Righteous Men...and Zhang Mingzhen.

Zhu Yihai looked a little lonely.

Of the civil and military officials in Taizhou at that time, only one in ten survived, as they all died for their country.

Zhu Yihai understood the thoughts of his confidants in the hall. He was not the true leader of the revival.

Just because of Emperor Gao's bloodline, he wanted to give the people of the world a banner of hope.

After Emperor Yongli abandoned the country and went hunting in the south, people all over the world gave up on the escaped emperor.

Unless he can fight back, no one will recognize the Yongli flag that has been in use for fourteen years.

The same is true for Zheng Yanping.

Longwu gave him the surname Zheng, and everyone placed their hopes of expelling the Tartars and restoring China on Zheng.

The Ming Dynasty's Later Tang Zhuangzong was recognized by people all over the world.

Who would have thought that Zheng Yanping would suddenly go to attack Yizhou and abandon the red land of China just like Emperor Yongli.

This made the civil and military officials of Jinxia begin to feel disappointed with Zheng Yanping and no longer rely on him.

Zhu Yihai sighed deeply: "Xuanzhu, although Zheng Yanping lost Yizhou, there is still hope, and the troops in Wuzhou are still strong."

"The Emperor is not known whether he is alive or dead, so how can I, the King, presumptuously overstep my bounds and revive the old Tang-Lu conflict?"

Zhu Yihai waved his hand: "For many years, this king has always been determined to endure hardships and never slacken his efforts, but he still needs to wait and see. It is not the right time yet."

"Now is not the time. I cannot proclaim myself emperor and seize the honored generals under the command of Prince Yanping."

Zhang Huangyan's heart sank, and he urged again: "At this time of national danger, Your Highness, please correct the people's hearts."

"Although Jin and Xiamen are trapped, the Eastern Tartars fear the sea like a tiger and have migrated to the coast, causing wrath from heaven and resentment from the people."

"Tens of thousands of people have abandoned their homes, eager to make a move, eager to support the king. If we let this inspire us, we will be no different from the Qin Dynasty that has fallen."

"Lead an army to the north, and you can get a million soldiers and capture a hundred or so cities."

Zhu Yihai is no longer the young man he used to be. He doesn't believe in Zhang Huangyan's grand blueprint at all and still waves his hand to refuse.

Zhang Huangyan understood immediately when he saw this.

The King of Lu from sixteen years ago had long since died, killed by repeated failures in his expeditions and repeated disappointments in his attempts to recover.

Maybe he has lost his ambition, or maybe he is afraid of Zheng Yanping.

It was no longer possible for the King of Lu, who had suffered so much, to govern the country and become emperor and call on the world.

Zhang Huangyan bowed helplessly: "Jinxia is about to be in chaos. If Zheng Yanping can still suppress the generals, Your Highness will be safe."

"If the honorable generals lead the Qing army to attack, Jinxia will be in danger. Your Highness, please be careful."

"I will return to the outer island immediately. If things go wrong, please come and find me."

Before Zhang Huangyan finished speaking, the door of the room where Lu Fan was having a secret meeting was suddenly opened.

A figure rushed in hurriedly.

Xu Fuyuan looked at Wang Zhongxiao who had gone forward to inquire about the situation and asked, "Wang Shaoqing, how is Zheng Yanping doing? Have they taken Haicheng?"

Wang Zhongxiao nodded and panted, "It doesn't matter. The key is the person who came back with Zheng Yanping."

"The Crown Prince of Daming and Zheng Yanping have returned together."

Zhang Huangyan asked in confusion, "Where did the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty come from?"

After Emperor Yongli went south to hunt the barbarians, the Prince of Lu was the only legitimate regent in China, and he had not yet proclaimed himself emperor.

How could a prince come from the King of Lu who has no descendants?

Zhang Huangyan narrowed his eyes, and his heart was in turmoil.

Could it be that Zheng Yanping took the lead and supported a member of the royal family to succeed to the throne and become emperor, seizing the title?

who is it?

He is the son of Zhu Changqing, the Prince of Huai whom he once supported, and the current Prince of Huai, Zhu Yougui.

Or he found the offspring of the young Tang King and once again supported the Tang vassal state.

Wang Zhongxiao stumbled over his words, "He's from Nanyang... from Nanyang, the Yongli Crown Prince."

"what?"

The ruler and his ministers of Lu were immediately horrified.

"The Emperor has sailed to Fujian?"

"Did Zheng Yanping bring back Crown Prince Yongli?"

Emperor Yongli actually made a big circle and returned to the southeast.

No wonder Zheng Yanping stopped attacking Yizhou and started to reclaim wasteland and cultivate land.

With Emperor Yongli, or Prince Yongli, Zheng Yanping once again had the righteousness to resist the Qing Dynasty, which was enough to win the hearts of the people.

Zhang Huangyan still frowned: "Is it really the Yongli Crown Prince?"

However, Zheng Yanping took a different approach and found a young boy to be the crown prince of Yongli.

During the more than ten years of war between the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were people who pretended to be members of the Ming royal family and led the Righteous Army to resist the Qing.

There were several real and fake cases of Prince Zhu San alone, and a major case of a fake prince occurred during the Hongguang period.

Wang Zhongxiao nodded and said, "It is indeed true."

"He was accompanied by Hu Yiqing, the commander of Yunnan, and Ma Baoma Weixing, a general under Li Chengdong. Some Cantonese people have seen these three people."

"Lin Ying, who has met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, has confirmed this."

Lin Ying, a clerk in the Ministry of War, was an official in the Yongli court. Unable to tolerate Ma Jixiang's treacherous party's disorderly politics, he shaved his head to become a monk and left Yunnan.

It was he who informed the southeastern Ming army of the fall of Yunnan and Yunnan and Yongli's southern expedition.

Then Zheng Yanping sent Wang Zide to Hangmin.

"Besides, Zhang Cangshui, you are wrong."

"It wasn't Zheng Yanping who brought back Prince Yongli."

"It was Crown Prince Yongli who brought Zheng Yanping back."

(End of this chapter)