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

The Jiangnan region resembles a watercolor painting, its mountains and rivers serene and its towns dotted with famous towns. Huashi Town shimmers like a brilliant pearl within this canvas. Huashi's name has undergone many changes, including Huashu, Huashi, and later, the more famous nickname "Longsha." During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, when Jiangyin established twelve towns, Huashu Town proudly held a place among them.

The name Huashu dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period. King Fuchai of Wu visited the area while hunting and was captivated by the lush greenery of Longshan and Shashan Mountains, with wildflowers vying for attention on the slopes. It resembled a paradise on earth, captivating him. Fuchai built a hut at the foot of the mountain and planted flowers, earning the area the name Huashu. Because the words "hua" and "hua" in Wu dialect sound similar and have similar meanings, the name "Huashu" gradually became popular.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Wu Guotai, the mother of Sun Quan of the Eastern Wu, built the ancient Taiqing Temple here, where incense curls and Buddhist chants echo. Also, the ruins of Cangjun Cave, where renowned Song Dynasty generals Han Shizhong and Liang Hongyu fought against the Jin army, still stand today, silently telling the story of their heroic deeds.

The Huashi region has been renowned for its cotton production since ancient times. The cotton produced here is as white as snow, as soft as silk, and of exceptional quality, akin to a heavenly treasure. Over time, this area gradually developed into a bustling cotton distribution center. Today, the Huashi region has become the core hub of the Jiangnan cotton trade, with daily cotton trading volumes staggering. The reputation of "Ten thousand pieces produced daily, clothing the world" spread like wildfire, earning Huashi the nickname "Flower Market."

Huashi is nestled to the north by Longshan and Shashan, two mountains that, like two loyal guardians, steadfastly guard this vibrant land. North and south of the mountains, scenic beauty abounds, like a mosaic of pearls, captivating and captivating. The Taiqing River, like a blue ribbon, gently flows through the town. Its waters are as clear as a mirror, shimmering like countless tiny diamonds. Fish swim happily, occasionally leaping out of the water, creating a shower of sparkling water.

The streets on both sides are immaculately clean, as if gently brushed by a fairy's magic wand, leaving them spotless. Shops stand side by side, each offering a dazzling array of goods. Walking along the streets, one hears a cacophony of bustling sounds. The cries of vendors echo like a passionate symphony; the haggling of customers fills the air with the hustle and bustle of life; the cheerful laughter of the people is like a joyful ballad. These sounds interweave to create a vibrant, vibrant, and vibrant canvas. This place, often called "Little Suzhou," reflects its immense prosperity.

During the Ming Dynasty, the southwest of Huashi Shashan Mountain was known as the "Eight Scenic Spots of Sangxi," each a poetic and picturesque scene, resembling a paradise, inviting lingering visitors. North of the area between Shashan and Bailong Mountain is the "Ten Scenes of the Garden." In the mid-Ming Dynasty, Bian Bangben, a local resident, composed ten poems vividly depicting the stunning scenery of the Huayuanli area north of Shihumen, between Bailong and Shashan Mountains. These poems are known as the "Ten Scenes of the Garden." These vibrant scenes complement each other, painting a dreamlike and beautiful picture of Huashi.

During the Qing Dynasty, Lu Shilin created "Eight Scenic Spots of Longsha", which took Shannan Huashu as its theme, adding a rich color to Huashi's cultural heritage. Since then, Huashi has been known as "Longsha", and its reputation has spread far and wide.

At this time, on the official road leading to Huashi Town, a cavalry of dozens of people was hurriedly coming, and the person leading them was Emperor Chongzhen.

Despite strong opposition from everyone, Chongzhen resolutely made the decision to personally go to Yizhen to meet Huang Degong. To maintain secrecy, Huang Fei led the team, who set out on the journey under the guise of negotiating a relocation.

In addition to Huang Fei and Li Ruolian, Li Laiheng, who had been persuaded to surrender by Chongzhen, also joined the group with his personal guards. These personal guards were all elite veterans, and Chongzhen gave them the freedom to choose whether to stay or leave, but they all chose to stay and follow Li Laiheng without hesitation.

After arriving in Taizhou, Chongzhen suddenly proposed to go to Jiangyin, which gave Huang Fei and Li Ruolian a headache.

The two knew that this trip was extremely risky, and their persuasion was futile, so they had no choice but to make an arrangement. They left Li Ruolian with his troops to temporarily station in Taizhou, while Huang Fei led dozens of elite soldiers to accompany Chongzhen on the secret journey.

Chongzhen offered no further explanation, and his trip to Jiangyin was no spur-of-the-moment decision. As a former amateur writer, the "Three Ministers of the Anti-Qing War" were figures he knew all too well. Now that they were not far from Jiangyin, how could he easily pass up on such talented individuals?

He could have secured military power first and then sought out talented individuals, but Chongzhen was currently lacking in available personnel! Furthermore, the person he was looking for this time was Yan Yingyuan!

Chongzhen and his entourage rode non-stop to Huashu Town. To avoid attracting unnecessary attention, everyone wore casual clothes. However, the dozens of horsemen were still quite conspicuous. Fortunately, Huashu Town was already very prosperous and bustling with merchants on weekdays, so their arrival did not cause much of a stir.

According to the records collected by the novice writer Zhu Youjian, Yan Yingyuan should have lived in seclusion with his mother and wife in Haihui Temple on the southeast foot of Shashan Mountain not far from Huashu Town.

"Zhu Ge, go and find out where Haihui Temple is. And ask if there is a man named Yan Yingyuan living there..." Seeing Huashu Town right in front of him, Chongzhen whispered.

It was only then that the people accompanying him realized that Chongzhen had gone through so much trouble to travel hundreds of miles just to find someone. They couldn't help but feel curious about the extraordinary qualities of Yan Yingyuan.

"Your Majesty, are you here to visit Yan Yingyuan?" Huang Fei couldn't help but ask.

"Wenlu also knows Yan Yingyuan?" Chongzhen didn't expect that Huang Fei actually knew Yan Yingyuan, and was a little surprised.

"I have met Yan Yingyuan several times before because of the suppression of pirates." Huang Fei nodded and said.

"What do you think of this person?"

"This man is both intelligent and courageous, serious and upright. He is a rare talent!" Huang Fei pondered for a moment, then said with a hint of curiosity, "But I remember that he was just a small clerk. How did Your Majesty know him?"

It's no wonder that Huang Fei was curious. He knew Yan Yingyuan because he had some contact with him when he was fighting against the pirates in Jiangyin. But Chongzhen was far away in the capital. How could he know about a small clerk thousands of miles away?

"Of course I know..." Chongzhen smiled and did not answer directly.

It wasn't that he didn't want to answer, he just couldn't articulate the reason. Was he supposed to tell Huang Fei that he had traveled from the future and knew Yan Yingyuan's life inside and out?

Seeing Chongzhen's answer, everyone naturally did not dare to ask any more questions, but they were even more curious about Yan Yingyuan.

At this time, Yan Yingyuan was only a Dianshi of Jiangyin County. Although he had been promoted to the position of Chief Clerk of Deying County due to his meritorious service, he had not yet been able to take up his post due to the lack of roads. Naturally, such a small figure would not be known to those around Chongzhen.

But as a time traveler, Chongzhen was well aware of Yan Yingyuan's reputation!

A renowned official and national hero who fought against the Qing Dynasty in the late Ming Dynasty, and one of the Three High Lords of Jiangyin, Yan Yingyuan held Jiangyin captive for 81 days, leading the people in a desperate struggle against the Qing army, killing over 75,000. Historical records show that during that tragic and heroic battle, Yan Yingyuan demonstrated exceptional leadership and unwavering resolve, leading the people of Jiangyin in a desperate struggle against the Qing army. Armed with rudimentary weapons, they faced the well-equipped Qing troops with unwavering fear and unflinching determination. Throughout history, Yan Yingyuan's reputation rivals that of Shi Kefa, surpassing even that of Shi Kefa. Most importantly, he possessed both literary and military prowess, possessing both wisdom and courage. With only the small city of Jiangyin and no regular troops, he led 100,000 Jiangyin residents to hold out for a full 81 days against a massive siege of over 200,000 Qing troops. This unyielding spirit of resistance and exceptional leadership are truly admirable and remarkable.

As a time traveler from later times, Chongzhen was well aware of Yan Yingyuan's immense value. Naturally, he would do everything in his power to recruit such a talent into his own fold.

Zhu Ge came back soon, accompanied by a boy of about ten years old.

"Your Majesty... Young Master, this is Tang Yuan. He heard that we are looking for Mr. Yan and is willing to take us there!" Zhu Ge pointed to the boy beside him and said.

"Oh? Do you know Yan Yingyuan?" Chongzhen asked with a smile.

"Of course! In Huashi and Zhutang Towns, who doesn't know Mr. Yan's reputation?" The boy named Tang Yuan looked quite clever and intelligent. He looked everyone over and said, "But I want to know where you are from. Are you his friends?"

"We've come from the capital. Honestly, we're not really his friends, we're just here to visit him because he knows us!" Chongzhen said with a smile, "Could you please show us the way, Tang Tongzi?"

"From the capital? Are you here to visit us because of his reputation?" Tang Yuan smiled and nodded. "I didn't expect Mr. Yan's reputation has spread to the capital. You have good judgment. Mr. Yan is truly a hero to us!"

"Oh? Can you tell me?"