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

Lu Jiude dragged his feet back home, feeling heavy as if they were filled with lead. The court's formation of the Northern Diplomatic Mission had been causing unrest among the people, and he was so busy that he felt dizzy and disoriented, like a leaf caught in a strong wind, completely losing his rhythm.

This matter started when Wu Sangui led the Qing army into the pass and drove away Li Zicheng.

This was a move that would invite a wolf into the house, but what was incredible was that this decision did not offend the decision-making ministers of the court. Instead, they regarded it as something that pleased the people.

They even advocated contacting Wu Sangui as soon as possible and using the Qing army to eliminate the bandits. In the minds of these ministers, the Qing Dynasty occupied Beijing only to gain some benefits and would not stay there for long. They could redeem the capital from them in the future.

Thus, the strategy of "allying with the Lu to suppress the bandits," or rather, "borrowing the Lu to suppress the bandits," became a fundamental national policy of the Hongguang court. Even Shi Kefa, in his earlier communications with Dorgon, had repeatedly expressed his desire to "join the army westward," hoping to establish long-term friendly relations with the Qing dynasty after suppressing the Dashun Rebellion and ensure peace between the two countries.

The decision-making ministers in the court unanimously approved of this national policy, and Emperor Hongguang himself placed high hopes on the "alliance with the enemy to suppress the bandits" and eagerly hoped that it would succeed. In this situation, sending an embassy to communicate and negotiate with the Qing court became the most urgent task at the moment.

On the third day of the sixth lunar month, Chen Hongfan, the former Viceroy and General-in-Chief, stepped forward and petitioned the court for the important role of Northern Envoy. Upon receiving the petition, Emperor Hongguang immediately ordered him to travel to the capital to meet the emperor. On the thirteenth, Chen Hongfan arrived safely. On the nineteenth, Zuo Maodi, the governor of Yingtian and Anqing, whose mother had died in Beijing, expressed his desire to serve the court alongside Chen Hongfan as the Northern Envoy, driven by his longing for her and his determination to serve the court. Emperor Hongguang approved his request.

On the fifth day of the seventh lunar month, the Hongguang Emperor promoted the members of the diplomatic corps. Zuo Maodi was promoted to Right Vice Minister of the Nanjing Ministry of War and Right Censor-in-Chief, responsible for managing Hebei affairs and liaising with the Guandong military; Ma Shaoyou, a Doctor of Military Affairs, was promoted to Junior Secretary of the Imperial Household Department; and Chen Hongfan, Deputy Governor-General, was promoted to Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince. Thus, the Northern Diplomatic Corps was officially formed. The following day, the Hongguang Emperor personally summoned Zuo Maodi, Chen Hongfan, and Ma Shaoyou, and detailed their mission and precautions. Minister of Rites Gu Xichou also presented important documents, including a eulogy for the late emperor's coffin, a letter to the Qing court, an imperial edict issued to the subjects, and imperial decrees issued to Wu Sangui and others.

After the Northern Mission was established, a vast amount of preparations needed to be completed. They carried an imperial edict from the Ming Emperor to the Khan of the Northern Kingdom, imperial decrees bestowed upon Wu Sangui, the Duke of Ji, and others, a considerable amount of silver and gold, and other gifts, as well as the entire itinerary. Every detail required meticulous planning. During this time, Lu Jiude was kept constantly busy, with barely a moment's leisure.

But as soon as he stepped into the house, before he had time to catch his breath, his personal eunuch Lu Youcai came hurriedly to report that the eunuch beside Qu Shangzhong had something urgent to report to him.

"Qu Shangzhong has got a good job. He is living a carefree life in Yangzhou. What urgent matter could he have to talk to me about at this time?" Lu Jiude had been busy all day and was exhausted both physically and mentally. He was feeling very upset and muttered impatiently.

"Your Excellency, Eunuch Lu, there is urgent information. Eunuch Qu specifically instructed that this matter can only be told to you," Qu Keqi glanced at Lu Youcai who was standing next to him, with a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

"Youcai is my confidant, you don't have to worry, just tell me directly," Lu Jiude frowned and said in a low and serious voice.

"Here is a letter from Eunuch Qu. Eunuch Lu will know it at a glance," Qu Keqi said as he carefully took out the letter from Qu Shangzhong from his arms and handed it over respectfully with both hands.

"What? Emperor Chongzhen isn't dead?" Lu Jiude unfolded the letter and read just two lines before his face turned pale. He cried out in shock, "Is this absolutely true?"

"Of course I'm sure," Qu Keqi replied quickly, speaking rapidly. "Over the past two days, Commander-in-Chief Shi Kefa has summoned Huang Degong, Liu Liangzuo, Li Chengdong, Huang Fei, and others to Yangzhou City for a meeting. Eunuch Qu speculates that he's trying to unite the various towns to support Emperor Chongzhen. If they unite, disaster will truly be imminent."

"The current emperor was supported by the commander-in-chief and the four towns in northern Jiangzhen. Why did Eunuch Qu believe that Shi Kefa would support Chongzhen?" Lu Jiude frowned and asked after thinking for a moment.

"Eunuch Qu said that Lord Shi originally wanted to support someone other than the current emperor..." Qu Keqi replied quickly.

"That makes sense," Lu Jiude nodded, his expression becoming more solemn.

Shi Kefa was a minister personally promoted by Emperor Chongzhen and held a high position during his reign. Furthermore, Shi Kefa initially favored Zhu Changying, the Prince of Gui, over Zhu Yousong, the Prince of Fu, as the heir to the throne. However, at the last minute, Ma Shiying schemed against him and forced him to support the Prince of Fu.

Now that Emperor Chongzhen has returned to life, it is only natural for him to support the restoration of Emperor Chongzhen. It seems that this time, there is really trouble.

"In the letter, Eunuch Qu said that he would arrange for someone to assassinate Chongzhen?" Lu Jiude asked again, with a trace of panic in his eyes.

"To prevent any complications, Eunuch Qu decided to launch the operation that very night. He will personally lead the assassination of Chongzhen, and then ask me to leave the city and come to the capital to inform you, Eunuch." Qu Keqi nodded and said, "But I don't know how the assassination operation is going..."

Qu Keqi had driven to Nanjing overnight, riding non-stop all the way. This morning, he finally entered the city, only to find Lu Jiude still discussing important matters. He waited until noon before Lu Jiude returned home.

"You've worked hard, go down and rest." Lu Jiude nodded slightly, looking a little tired, then waved his hand, signaling Qu Keqi to leave.

What you fear will come true. Emperor Hongguang has just ascended the throne and the court is not yet stable. The sudden appearance of Emperor Chongzhen will inevitably cause an uproar in the court.

These ministers were all old ministers of the Chongzhen Dynasty. Who would they support? To them, no matter who sat on the throne, it didn't seem to make much difference. But to Lu Jiude, it was a world of difference.

He and Ma Shiying had fully contributed to Prince Fu's ascension to the throne. Now, they enjoyed the Hongguang Emperor's trust and wealth. But if Chongzhen were to return to the throne, would they be able to maintain their current status and glory? The answer is self-evident.

Qu Shangzhong's situation was exactly the same as his, which was why he persuaded Wang Zheng to assassinate Chongzhen. It seemed that there was no time to lose, and he had to act quickly.

"Prepare the horses, I'm going to see Prime Minister Ma!" Thinking of this, Lu Jiude could no longer sit still, he stood up suddenly and gave orders loudly.

Ma Shiying's mansion is located in Jian'anfang, Nanjing City. This place is where the rich and noble people live, and it is the most prosperous and lively area in Nanjing City.

Despite its location in the bustling city, Ma Shiying's mansion possesses a unique charm. A tranquil retreat amidst the hustle and bustle, its interior is tranquil and elegant, like a paradise. In spring and summer, the mansion is lush with evergreen flowers and trees, creating a vibrant scene. A gentle breeze and the fragrance of flowers fill the air, bringing a sense of relaxation and tranquility. In autumn and winter, the garden's jagged rocks, resembling crouching beasts or solitary immortals, imbue it with a uniquely cool and tranquil charm. Amidst the bustling city, a unique and refined ambiance of forest and springs is created.

Ma Shiying was very surprised by Lu Jiude's sudden visit. They had been discussing the Northern Mission for most of the morning, and just as they returned home, Lu Jiude hurried over.

However, when Ma Shiying saw Qu Shangzhong's letter, his face suddenly changed and his eyes were full of horror.

While Prince Fu's ascension to the throne was certainly due to the strong support of him and Lu Jiude, the primary reason was the support of the Four Commanderies of Jiangbei. Back then, Ma Shiying led 50,000 troops to escort Prince Fu Zhu Yousong all the way to Pukou. This powerful display of military might forced Shi Kefa to support Prince Fu as the successor.

Judging from the contents of the letter, Shi Kefa had already contacted Huang Degong, Li Chengdong, Liu Liangzuo, and Huang Fei, the generals of several towns. If these people were persuaded by Emperor Chongzhen, then Emperor Chongzhen would have the power to overwhelm the Hongguang court.

After all, in the current situation, aside from Zuo Liangyu, the four Jiangbei military commanderies were the most powerful military force. While Zuo Liangyu commanded a significant force, he harbored resentment because he had not participated in the enthronement of Prince Fu, and he could easily turn against Emperor Chongzhen. Although Liu Zeqing had not participated this time, Ma Shiying knew he was a cunning and calculating individual. Expecting him to stand against the other three commanderies was simply impossible.

As a result, only the Beijing Camp was left in Nanjing City, but these soldiers had no combat effectiveness and were unable to deal with any possible crisis.

For a moment, the two stood there in silence, praying that Qu Shangzhong's assassination plan would succeed. But at this moment, a servant from the mansion came to report that an express letter had arrived from 800 miles away.

"Eight hundred miles express? What's going on?" Upon hearing this, Ma Shiying became more and more irritated and uneasy, and his brows were tightly furrowed.

He hurriedly took the express package handed to him by the subordinate official, took a look at it, and then he stood up suddenly as if he had been electrocuted.

"...The Ming dynasty suffered many setbacks, its empire suddenly crumbled, and its society was in danger. Hongguang succeeded to the throne, but instead of acting as a virtuous ruler, he committed numerous evil deeds. He drank excessively and often neglected state affairs, causing chaos at court. He indulged in sensual pleasures and kept many beautiful concubines, causing resentment among the women of the people and the breakdown of social order. He also engaged in massive construction projects, wantonly plundering the people's wealth and forcing them to work, leaving the fields awash with starvation and unbearable suffering for the people...

Fortunately, the Way of Heaven still exists, and with the protection of Taizu's mighty spirit, the late emperor is safe and sound. We should raise an army of righteousness, purge the corrupt officials who surround the emperor, and depose the unjust Hongguang. We should welcome the late emperor back to the throne and restore the orthodox government. Benevolent and ambitious people should step forward, follow the will of Heaven and the people, and jointly defeat the rebellious emperor. Those who follow rebellion will be infamous for eternity, while those who follow justice will achieve immortal success. I hope that heroes from all corners of the world will unite to help the Ming Dynasty regain its glory, restore the late emperor, and usher in a new era of prosperity..."

This express letter, sent over an 800-mile journey, was none other than the anti-rebellion manifesto for the restoration of Emperor Chongzhen.

It seems that Qu Shangzhong's assassination attempt has failed, and the generals of these towns have also reached a consensus and support the restoration of Emperor Chongzhen.

"Let's go into the palace together." Ma Shiying sighed, a bitter smile appeared on his face, and he said helplessly.