Travel back in time and become Chongzhen, watch me turn the tide

At this moment, Chongzhen was like a lone boat drifting on a vast ocean, caught in an endless vortex of chaos and confusion. While his fate had unfolded slightly differently than previous accounts had indicated—he had not ended his life on Coal Hill—his disappearance now shrouded his future like a thick fog, bringing with it endless uncertainty and deep anxiety.

He pondered over and over in his mind whether the secondary capital Nanjing would, as the wheel of history had once before, once again produce a new emperor who would ascend the throne that symbolized supreme power?

Zhu Youjian's historical record reveals that after Chongzhen's death, the Qing army failed to demonstrate a significant military advantage. Furthermore, for a significant period, they refrained from advancing southward. The Southern Ming court, at that time, firmly held the most prosperous regions in the land, and many people throughout the country still harbored a deep attachment to the Ming dynasty. Especially after the Dashun Army suffered setbacks and was forced to retreat, the anti-Qing struggle surged like a surging tide, rising and falling without a single moment's pause.

However, it is regrettable that the Southern Ming Dynasty was the first to fall into the endless abyss of internal strife. The civil and military officials of the Southern Ming court were so adept at engaging in internal strife that the saying "experts in internal strife, amateurs in external strife" seemed so apt at this moment.

In this chaotic situation, the Southern Ming court was unable to effectively rally its forces to prevent the Qing army's attack. Consequently, when the Qing army finally marched south, the Southern Ming court was like a candle in the wind, quickly crushed. However, unexpectedly, when only a few counties remained, the Southern Ming's resistance became even more resolute, as if unleashing its last burst of strength in despair.

At this moment, the top priority facing Emperor Chongzhen was undoubtedly to firmly grasp the key rope of unity.

Zhu Youjian, a later, lesser-known writer, also pondered this question. He believed the first step was to firmly control military power. However, as to how to do this, he felt like a traveler lost in a thick fog, completely clueless.

Chongzhen, his heart filled with confusion, gently pushed open the hatch and slowly made his way onto the deck. Wang Chengen, who had always loyally accompanied him, immediately followed closely behind him.

On an April night at sea, the chill air lashed at him like a sharp sword. As soon as Emperor Chongzhen stepped out of the cabin, he couldn't help but shudder, a chill that seemed to be an outward manifestation of his inner uneasiness.

"Your Majesty!" When the soldiers guarding outside saw Emperor Chongzhen appear, they immediately knelt on the ground and saluted respectfully.

"Gou'er, Tiezhu, why are you two here? Hurry up and get up!" Emperor Chongzhen looked up and saw Tiezhu and Gou'er standing before him. Their figures carried a simple determination in the night.

"Hurray...hurray...we are on duty tonight!" The dog touched his head and said softly, with a hint of nervousness and awe in his voice.

"Hey, why are you two kneeling? Kneeling is not allowed here. We used to get along well, didn't we..." Emperor Chongzhen hurried forward and gently pulled the two up. There was a hint of kindness and helplessness in his words.

"But... you are the emperor. My mother said that you have to kowtow when you see a high-ranking official! You are the emperor, and those high-ranking officials are under your jurisdiction, so they have to kowtow when they see you!" Tiezhu said in a buzzing voice, and his words were like muffled thunder, echoing in the air.

"This is all feudal dregs. If you kowtow to me every time you see me, you'll become a kowtowworm," Emperor Chongzhen said, patting Tiezhu's shoulder with a smile. "From now on, you two are not allowed to kneel when you see me. Do you understand?"

"Your Majesty, this..." Wang Chengen heard this and was about to say something, but Emperor Chongzhen raised his hand to stop him.

"I have said that Tiezhu and Gou'er do not need to kneel when they see me! This is my order!" Emperor Chongzhen's words were firm and unquestionable.

"As you say," Emperor Chongzhen's words were always golden, so Wang Chengen could only accept the order helplessly and said, "What are you two still standing there for? Hurry up and thank him!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"I'm feeling rather bored. How about you two chat with me?" Emperor Chongzhen asked softly, a faint smile on his face. His smile carried a hint of fatigue and anticipation.

"Your Majesty, if you don't mind our clumsiness, we'll chat with you for a while," said the dog, who had regained his composure after his earlier panic. His words carried a simple sincerity.

"There's one thing I've never understood..." Emperor Chongzhen frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and said, "Tiezhu came with us because I promised him food. Why did you agree to go with us?"

Emperor Chongzhen had full trust in Tiezhu, but he had his doubts about Gou'er. After all, Gou'er was a minor official in the Dashun Army, and he was doing well. How could he just run off with a few strangers for no apparent reason? It was truly hard to understand.

"This is a long story, and it has to start from me and Tiezhu..." Gou'er said with a smile, his smile carrying a hint of warmth of memories.

"We grew up together. Tiezhu is a little bit stupid, but he was born with supernatural strength and is very talented in fighting. No one can beat him... As for me, I have been smarter than other children of the same age since I was born. When we were together, I was responsible for giving advice and he was responsible for protecting me, so no one in the village dared to mess with us," Gou'er's words were full of nostalgia for the past.

"But later, natural and man-made disasters kept coming. Our families died of illness, starvation, or were killed by rebels, and we were swept up in the vast group of refugees." The dog smiled sadly and said slowly, "Until today."

Although the dog was still young, Chongzhen could see endless sadness and helplessness in his smile.

"It is extremely difficult for the two of you to struggle and survive in this chaotic world until now," Emperor Chongzhen nodded slightly and said with emotion.

Yes, at such an age, people in later generations could still go to school without worries, but what were they experiencing at that time? Hunger, disease, natural disasters, man-made disasters, death, killing... Chongzhen truly sympathized with and admired them.

"The fact that we're still alive today is actually thanks to Tiezhu," Gou'er patted Tiezhu's sturdy back and said with a smile, "We've followed too many leaders over the years. I've noticed that whoever Tiezhu follows thrives. Maybe it's a special skill of his... It's because of this that we've been able to survive all these years... So when he said he wanted to follow you, naturally I followed him."

"This..." Emperor Chongzhen didn't know what to say when he heard this.

He looked at Tiezhu with a silly smile on his face, and couldn't help thinking, I didn't expect that this is really a walking lucky star!

However, if it is true as the dog said, does it mean that luck is on my side?

"What's your name, dog?"

"We don't have any names, so it's easier to raise us by giving us a simple name." The dog said with a smile.

"Then I'll give you and Tiezhu a name, okay?" asked Emperor Chongzhen.

"That's great, Your Majesty. Tiezhu and I will kowtow to you!" Gou'er's eyes lit up when he heard that, and he hurriedly pulled Tiezhu to kowtow.

"Well then!" Emperor Chongzhen laughed and said, "You two can take my surname. Gou'er will be named Zhu Ge, which means "to stop the war and be strong." Tiezhu will be named Zhu Tie!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhu Ge (Dog) hurriedly pulled Zhu Tie (Iron Pillar) and knelt down to express his gratitude! Being given a surname by the emperor is a great honor that not everyone can get.

The most famous Ming Dynasty figure bestowed with a surname is undoubtedly Zheng Chenggong, also known as "King of the Country." Born in Japan, Zheng Chenggong was the son of the pirate Zheng Zhilong, originally named Zheng Sen. In the late Ming dynasty, he refused to surrender to the Qing dynasty, but instead resolutely led an uprising against them. For his meritorious service, he was granted the surname of the country by the Southern Ming Emperor, Zhu Youjian, and given the name "Chenggong."

Gou'er and Tiezhu naturally couldn't compare to Zheng Chenggong, and as a time traveler from later times, Chongzhen had no special intention in giving them names, simply because he thought they sounded unpleasant. But for them, these two names truly tied their hearts to Chongzhen. Two children from the lowest social classes being given the surname of the emperor was a surefire way to make them serve Chongzhen wholeheartedly.