Emperor Chongzhen was too extreme.

Chapter 28 Zhang Xianzhong's Outlook
Just as Li Zicheng was sitting on the dilapidated threshold of his own house, lost in thought.

Another migrant from Mizhi County, who was about twenty years old.

He was sitting leaning against a large tree, staring at the cracked earth in front of him with a gloomy expression, making people afraid to approach.

This refugee was named Zhang Xianzhong.

Unlike Li Zicheng, who was tormented by a messed-up life and turned into a ninja turtle, Zhang Xianzhong, after experiencing all sorts of awful days...

Instead of having their edges smoothed out, they became even more resilient with each setback.

Now he has become a qualified outlaw of the Ming Dynasty.

He was originally born in a small village in Dingbian County, Yan'an Prefecture.

In retrospect, his childhood was quite inspiring.

Born into poverty, he persevered through diligent study and martial arts training, eventually becoming a constable in Dingbian County.

This can be considered as a leap from a poor peasant to a government job.

As a result, Zhang Xianzhong, after becoming a constable, found himself even more unhappy than when he was a poor peasant.

His superiors in the county government looked down on him and often used various means to suppress him.

He would naturally not do those despicable things like currying favor with his superiors.

How could a mere petty official with no real talent or ability be worthy of him bowing his head?
As it developed, it progressed to the point where...

He was increasingly ostracized in the county government until he couldn't even receive his basic salary.

He had a conflict with his superior, and was then expelled from Dingbian County on some pretext, stripped of his household registration, and became a vagrant.

However, Zhang Xianzhong, who had already been expelled from the human race, was not discouraged.

He still harbors a desire to achieve great things.

After a long and winding journey, he arrived at Yansui Military Town and joined the army as a low-ranking soldier.

Zhang Xianzhong originally thought that in this important border town, facing the foreign tribes on the front line, he could fight his way out and make a future by relying on his bravery and wisdom.

But he realized he had been too naive.

The merits he earned by risking his life on the battlefield were casually taken away by his superiors, and his life was nothing more than an ant in the eyes of his superiors.

He offended his superior officer by disobeying "discipline" and was subjected to military law on a whim, whereupon he was hacked to death.

If it weren't for a general in the army speaking up for him, he would be dead by now.

Because of a single sentence from that general, his sentence was commuted to one hundred lashes and he was dismissed from the army.

On the one hand, he had a good relationship with the soldiers in the army, and on the other hand, he was physically fit.

Zhang Xianzhong ultimately survived the hundred lashes and then wandered and fled all the way to Mizhi County.

The hundred lashes did not break his spirit; instead, they ignited the fury in his heart.

"I want to be a law-abiding citizen, but the Ming Dynasty won't give me a way to survive!"

"I wanted to make some contributions to the Ming Dynasty, but the Ming Dynasty trampled on all my efforts and dignity repeatedly."

"Since the Ming Dynasty treats me this way, then don't blame me for repaying the Ming Dynasty a thousandfold for the suffering I've endured over the years."

Thinking of this, Zhang Xianzhong took a deep breath, propped himself up from under the big tree, and looked into the distance.

He saw withered rice seedlings, and he saw corpses of the starving everywhere.

He saw farmers whose backs were broken by exorbitant taxes and levies, and he saw officials in the county government who colluded with merchants to make a fortune from the national crisis and became bloated with greed.

Looking at these scenes.

Zhang Xianzhong knew his opportunity was coming soon.

Not to mention that a few days earlier, when he passed through a county town in Xi'an Prefecture, he met a refugee named Wang Er.

Faced with the dire situation of the people, Wang Er, who shared the same views, talked with him for a long time. They eventually came to a conclusion—it's time to rebel; they simply can't survive.

However, Zhang Xianzhong did not accept Wang Er's invitation to form a rebellion team.

For him, what he wanted was not a meal, but to make the Ming Dynasty feel pain.

Even if we can't kill this evil dragon that has lived for over two hundred years in one go, we should still take a piece of flesh from it.

However, given Wang Er's knowledge and abilities, he clearly cannot do this.

Moreover, Zhang Xianzhong, who had studied diligently since childhood, also knew that the first to rise up in rebellion would often draw away most of the government troops' firepower.

Therefore, he did not intend to be the first to stick his neck out.

When the anger in people's hearts is fully ignited, that is when he should truly take action.

It's already September, and the cold winter is just around the corner, making the people's hope of survival even more remote.

It can take anywhere from one month to three months.

The entire Shaanxi province will be plunged into turmoil.

At that time, as long as he raises his arm and calls out, a large number of starving people will respond.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xianzhong clenched his fists, and even the rough nails digging into his palms did not make him feel any pain.

Within the imperial city.

Wansui Mountain Martial Arts Arena.

The six hundred young eunuchs newly recruited by Wei, Cao, and Wang are engaged in live-fire combat with prisoners in the jail.

These young eunuchs had recently heard how prestigious the Imperial Palace was, and now that the Emperor himself was present...

Therefore, each of them was eager to do their best to show themselves.

Zhu Youjian looked at the young men in front of him who were about to become his personal guards and nodded secretly.

However, for him...

These guards also had a major shortcoming.

This shortcoming is not in terms of bravery or discipline, but rather in the fact that their clothing is too ordinary.

Zhu Youjian was well aware of the immense impact of wearing a heroic military uniform.

When there is no war, military appearance and discipline are another manifestation of the army's combat effectiveness.

A smart and proper military uniform can greatly enhance soldiers' sense of collective honor.

It can also enhance national self-confidence to some extent, attract more young people to spontaneously join the army, and lay a solid foundation for the empire's progress.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youjian also sent someone to summon Xu Yingyuan and directly gave the following instructions:

"You've done a good job at the Imperial Kitchen. From today onwards, you will also be in charge of the Imperial Wardrobe. I'm going to personally design a uniform for the Imperial Guards, so you must keep a close eye on it."

Xu Yingyuan hurriedly knelt down: "This servant obeys the decree! This servant will absolutely keep an eye on the tasks assigned by Your Majesty day and night. If there is even the slightest mistake, this servant will cut off my own head!"

Xu Yingyuan had been watching all the major and minor events that had occurred in the palace these past few days, and naturally he dared not neglect the tasks assigned to him by His Majesty.

Xu Yingyuan was also very excited about the job at the Imperial Wardrobe.

Although the Imperial Wardrobe is ranked low among the twelve bureaus in the palace, as a former member of the Prince Xin's mansion, its status in the palace is now second only to Wei, Cao, and Wang.

Unbeknownst to Xu Yingyuan, his mindset had undergone a tremendous change.

Originally, I was worried about whether His Majesty could shoulder the burden of the Ming Dynasty, but now I just want to do as much as I can for His Majesty.

Although he lacked Cao Huachun's talent and Wei Zhongxian's experience, he was absolutely capable of providing His Majesty with proper food and clothing.

(End of this chapter)