The video takes us to ancient times; Li Er transforms into the Tongtian Emperor of Shu Han.

Dorgon couldn't figure it out at all.

Why did the intelligence reports say that Li Zicheng was about to capture the capital and that the Ming Dynasty was on the verge of collapse?

In the blink of an eye, the rebel arrived at Shanhaiguan, which became the biggest obstacle for him to break through the pass!

A few days ago, he received Wu Sangui's letter of surrender and was overjoyed, preparing to enter the pass without losing a single soldier. But when he arrived, he found that the commander of Shanhaiguan had been replaced!

This is fucking ridiculous!

Fortunately, neither Li Zicheng nor Zhang Xianzhong were particularly skilled in defending cities.

Moreover, the Ming Dynasty has been unable to maintain Shanhaiguan Pass in recent years, and this once colossal obstacle that blocked their progress is no longer so formidable.

Although Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong brought a considerable number of troops, after learning the firearms technology of the Ming Dynasty, the elite Qing troops under Dorgon were far superior to them.

At most three months!

This is the time Dorgon anticipates when he will be able to breach Shanhaiguan Pass.

"We only have three months at most. The Qing army is stronger than we expected."

In the capital, Zhu Yuanzhang's prediction of how long the border could hold out was exactly the same as Dorgon's.

"If the intelligence reported by Li Zicheng and others is true, then perhaps only the Shenji Battalion can fight against the Qing army."

Zhu Di never imagined that the soft persimmon he used to be able to manipulate at will would one day grow to this extent!

Even if he were to deploy the Divine Machine Battalion, he might not be entirely confident of victory!

"How about... moving the capital south?"

Emperor Chongzhen offered a suggestion from the side.

Just as Zhu Di was about to reprimand him, he saw Old Zhu's eyes light up.

"Father, you don't really want to move the capital, do you? That's like deserting!"

There is no doubt that he was afraid of Zhu Yuanzhang.

But on certain matters of principle, he would never back down, not even from his own father!

Relocating the capital south?

Wouldn't that make it no different from the weak Song Dynasty?

Even if Zhu Di dies, he will die standing up!

There's no reason to hand over the land to the Manchus and then kneel down and live a miserable life in the south!

"So, fourth brother, sometimes you're so stupid it's unbelievable that you're our biological son!"

Old Zhu's face darkened.

They really have guts to point their fingers at him and call him a deserter!

"Giving up the capital without a fight is certainly impossible, but have you ever wondered why Emperor Chongzhen proposed moving the capital?"

Why?

While Zhu Di was still pondering, Li Shimin, outside the celestial canopy, had already figured it out.

"clever!"

"Jiangnan was not greatly affected by the war, and while it had abundant food supplies, it also had a large population!"

If we want to recruit a large number of troops in a short period of time, we must look to the south of the Yangtze River!

"But the journey is long, and with the border in imminent danger, recruiting soldiers from Jiangnan would leave no time for training and would be dangerous!"

Ying Zheng did not approve of this idea.

The quality of an army is more important than its quantity.

Just like Zhu Di's Shenji Battalion was able to defeat the rebels in one offensive.

An elite army can even defeat an enemy ten times its size!

Soldiers who have not undergone training are nothing more than a disorganized mess when suddenly put on the battlefield, and they will collapse at the first touch!

"Emperor Qin Shi Huang, you didn't consider that black, long, staff-like weapon. With such a weapon, even new recruits would have sufficient killing power!"

With such weapons in hand, as long as there are enough people, the Ming Dynasty could overwhelm Dorgon's army by sheer numbers!

In the sky above, Zhu Di suddenly realized what was happening.

"Jiangnan has been least affected by the rebellion. As long as we recruit craftsmen, we can quickly manufacture firearms and prepare the red-coated cannons!"

He understood what Lao Zhu meant.

It was not about moving the capital south, nor was it simply a matter of conscription, as outsiders speculated.

Old Zhu wanted to recruit craftsmen!

With enough craftsmen and the technology available to the Ming Dynasty, countless muskets, and even cannons, could be manufactured within three months!

With enough weapons, Zhu Di's Shenji Battalion could have 5,000 men or 50,000 men!

"Once you understand, go and do it. Draft an imperial edict to recruit artisans from Jiangnan. Their salaries and benefits should be the highest possible. If their families are willing, they can also be brought to the capital. We have money now and can afford to support them!"

"Furthermore, it's time to extend the reach southwards. Even in such a prosperous region as Jiangnan, tax revenue has been declining year after year. Chongzhen, do you really believe that?"

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Chongzhen with a look of disappointment and frustration.

This child is truly diligent in his duties, working until late at night every day, and having to get up for the morning court session after only a short nap.

I really don't know where all his diligence went.

What?

Is the knife not sharp enough?

So many wealthy and powerful families have so much grain and silver waiting for you to take, yet you won't take it!

You deserve to be poor!

"If we keep killing like this, won't it trigger a similar rebellion in Jiangnan?"

Emperor Chongzhen wiped the cold sweat from his temples.

He knew that once Old Zhu issued this decree, countless people would be slaughtered throughout Jiangnan.

But if they keep killing like this...

“There may be some who rebel, but you should know that what we fear least right now is the rebellion of those powerful gentry and noble families.”

"Besides, if they had any brains, they wouldn't rebel. Now that we're here, they'll naturally spit out everything they've swallowed before!"

"Draft the decree: This time, everyone in Jiangnan can donate voluntarily, either by name or anonymously. Those who donate by name will be richly rewarded later, and those who donate anonymously will not be pursued in the future. This is a one-time event!"

The news that Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang and Emperor Yongle Zhu Di had joined forces to save the Ming Dynasty had already spread far and wide.

The fact that Li Zicheng, who was about to capture the capital, withdrew his troops and rushed to the border with Zhang Xianzhong proves this point!

If it weren't for His Majesty the Great Ancestor, who would have had the ability to make Li Zicheng give up the throne that was so close at hand?

Upon learning this news, all the remaining loyal ministers and generals of the Ming Dynasty ran wildly through the streets, trying to let everyone know!

They tried to let everyone know that God blesses the Ming Dynasty and that the Ming Dynasty is not yet dead!

Hearts that were once cold and lifeless began to beat again upon hearing the news!

His Majesty the Great Emperor summoned craftsmen to the capital to forge weapons, including the Red Cannon!

His Majesty the Great Emperor wants to conscript soldiers from Jiangnan and collect grain supplies at the same time!

The gentry and wealthy families of Jiangnan were far more sensible than Chongzhen had imagined.

Upon receiving the news, before the imperial envoy even arrived, most people had already prepared supplies to donate to the court.

When Emperor Chongzhen first raised funds, he only managed to collect a mere few hundred thousand taels of silver.

But when the imperial envoy sent by Zhu Yuanzhang arrived in Jiangnan, the supplies handed over to him were already more than a hundred times that amount!

Such a grand occasion brought tears to the eyes of countless officials who remained in Yingtian Prefecture.

Many officials were moved by the actions of these aristocratic families and donated their own property.

Of course, the vast majority of donations are anonymous, making it difficult to count them all!

Even the imperial envoy himself did not expect that after coming to Jiangnan, before he could even announce the imperial decree, his residence would be almost filled with countless treasures!

Often, before dawn, the area outside the post station where he stayed would be piled high with valuables.

This……

Falling from the sky?