When Huang Degong entered the barracks, his face was slightly white and there were blood stains on his body.

Seeing Huang Degong entering the barracks, Gao Qiqian had a smile on his face.

"General Huang, your command is very good. You repelled the attack of the bandits. Our family will report your contribution to the emperor and let the emperor and the court reward you. Our family has just decided that you will be the one to command the guards of Yongding Gate.

fighting..."

Huang Degong raised his fists and saluted Gao Qiqian.

"The general would like to thank the Lord Supervisor for his trust. He will definitely live up to the great trust of the Lord Supervisor and do his best to defend the capital. However, the general has a request and please allow it..."

A look of displeasure flashed across Gao Qiqian's face and quickly disappeared.

"Is Mr. Huang thinking about dispatching some sergeants to guard Yongding Gate?"

Huang Degong looked at Gao Qiqian with his mouth open and nodded repeatedly.

"Oh, Mr. Huang, you also know that Li Zicheng has millions of bandits under his command, and they have launched an attack on all the gates of the capital. Our family can only dispatch 80,000 sergeants in total, and the number of sergeants stationed at Yongding Gate has reached 20,000.

There are enough people. Our family also knows that Li Zicheng focused on attacking Yongding Gate. We know that the sergeants guarding Yongding Gate suffered heavy casualties and the battle was very difficult. However, sergeants cannot be dispatched to other city gates. If the rogue bandits capture any part of the city,

If the gate is opened, then the outer city of the capital cannot be defended..."

Huang Degong looked at Gao Qiqian, feeling a little helpless, but he still spoke.

"The general knows that Lord Supervisor is in trouble, but the casualties of the sergeants guarding Yongding Gate are close to 5,000. The general predicts that the rogue bandits will launch a more violent attack tomorrow. If the sergeants cannot be supplemented, the battle will be extremely difficult.

.”

Gao Qiqian looked at Huang Degong and waved his hand gently.

"General Huang, our family knows that you are brave in fighting, so we put you in charge of guarding the most important Yongding Gate. We believe that you will be able to defeat the bandits and protect the city. If it weren't for the hard battle, we wouldn't let you."

Mr. Huang, you will take command. As for the matter of dispatching sergeants to rush for reinforcements, let’s not talk about it for now. In case of emergency, we will consider it later.”

...

It was getting dark. The Zhengyang Gate, Xuanwu Gate and Chongwen Gate entering the inner city from the outer city were heavily guarded. Hundreds of soldiers were guarding the gates and walls. Ordinary people were not allowed to approach at all.

Above the Zhengyang Gate, Cao Huachun was sitting on the Grand Master's chair, looking in the direction of Yongding Gate in the outer city, squinting in thought.

Although he was only responsible for guarding the gates of the inner city, Cao Huachun was extremely concerned about the fighting in the outer city. He knew very well that once the outer city was breached by Li Zicheng, the inner city and the imperial city would not be able to defend it at all.

"Report to Lord Cao, Lord Supervisor of the Army is going to enter the inner city..."

Cao Huachun stood up immediately, walked towards the bottom of the city wall, and spoke.

"Understood, let's go to greet the Lord Supervisor. You continue to guard the city gate without making any mistakes..."

Cao Huachun hurriedly walked down the city wall and came to the entrance of the corridor. Gao Qiqian was already standing here.

"Master Gao, thank you for your hard work. The military situation is urgent. Our family will accompany you to see the emperor."

"It turns out to be Mr. Cao. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Cao. You and our family will go to see the emperor..."

The two of them did not ride in the sedan chair, but headed towards the palace together.

The surroundings were unusually quiet. There had been a curfew in the capital a few days ago. The whole capital was in turmoil. People had closed their doors and stayed at home to pray for the blessings of Bodhisattvas. Although the capital had been attacked several times, including the siege of the capital by the Tatars of the Later Jin Dynasty.

, a curfew was also implemented at that time, but this time it was different. The fighting in the outer city was extremely fierce. The rumbling sound of cannons reminded the people in the city that this was an extremely cruel battle. The outcome of the battle may be related to their wealth.

and life.

"Master Gao, we heard a lot of cannon fire today. Are these rogues attacking so fiercely?"

Gao Qiqian looked at Cao Huachun and sighed softly. There were some things he couldn't say because saying them would disturb the morale of the army. However, he couldn't say that the situation was great, as that would be telling lies with open eyes.

"Well, Mr. Cao, today we can only say that we withstood the attack of the bandits. The attack of the bandits was really fierce. We really didn't expect it. We don't understand why the imperial court didn't dispatch Denglaixin earlier.

The army rushes for reinforcements. If there are new Denglai troops to help defend the capital, how can the rogue bandits be so arrogant..."

Cao Huachun nodded sympathetically.

"What Mr. Gao said is that the princes in the court missed important things. They always induced the emperor and made him think that Mr. Wu Zongrui was going to rebel. After so many years, Mr. Wu was the only one who could hold Liaodong. Besides,

Well, our family has been in the capital for so many years and we have never seen Mr. Wu rebel."

Both Gao Qiqian and Cao Huachun were still thinking about the Denglai New Army, but their real feelings were confused and lost. Only three days had passed. Chen Xinjia, Minister of War, did not know whether they had arrived at Shanhaiguan or not, even if they had climbed to Shanhaiguan.

After receiving the emperor's imperial edict, the Lai New Army immediately set off from Shanhaiguan. It would take at least three days to reach the capital. This trip lasted six days. When the Denglai New Army arrived in the capital, I'm afraid everything would be over.

It's too late.

I'm afraid that Denglai's new army has no hope. Officials of all sizes in the capital will have to think of other ways. But what should the emperor do?

The Forbidden City is also very quiet.

Gao Qiqian and Cao Huachun passed through the main hall and went straight to the side hall.

Wang Chengen stood at the door and waited in person. When the three of them met, they nodded and entered the side hall one by one.

"Master Gao, how is the fighting situation today? Have the bandits withdrawn..."

The candlelight in the side hall seemed to be darker than usual, which gave people a not very good feeling. Zhu Youjian had a look of concern on his face. He probably thought that after suffering a heavy blow from the sergeant of the Beijing camp, the rogue bandits would completely

Evacuate.

Gao Qiqian clasped his fists at Zhu Youjian and bowed his head before speaking.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the rogue bandits suffered a heavy blow and were unable to break through the city. However, they have not evacuated for the time being. They may launch an attack tomorrow. Your Majesty, the soldiers guarding the city fought bravely to kill the enemy. They are tenacious and brave. I believe they will be able to do well.

Protect the capital..."

Zhu Youjian was in a daze. He never thought that the bandits could be so tenacious.

"Here, Master Gao, are the rogue bandits still persisting after suffering a heavy blow? Does the capital really have to wait for the reinforcements of Denglai's new army..."

Zhu Youjian's words made Gao Qiqian unable to answer.

Perhaps Zhu Youji thought that in the second year of Chongzhen, the Hou Jin Tatars entered the pass to plunder and arrived in the capital. At that time, several armies came to help, the most famous of which was the white pole soldiers led by Qin Liangyu, but that time

It was just a false alarm, and the Houjin Tatars finally chose to evacuate voluntarily.

It's a pity that this time is completely different from the situation in the second year of Chongzhen.

...

After walking out of the side hall, Gao Qiqian went to the outer city and continued to command the army to guard the city gate.

The high-rise sedan was parked outside Zhengyangmen in the inner city.

Cao Huachun followed Gao Qiqian and spoke slowly.

"Master Gao, why do we feel that there is a huge danger in this capital..."

There was something in Cao Huachun's words, and Gao Qiqian certainly understood.

In the palace, the three most trusted eunuchs by the emperor were Cao Huachun, Gao Qiqian and Wang Chengen. In the past, Cao Huachun had the highest status in the palace, Gao Qiqian was the second, and Wang Chengen had the lowest status. However, after a few years, the situation has changed.

There have been changes. Wang Chengen has the highest status, followed by Gao Qiqian and Cao Huachun at the bottom.

The relationship between Gao Qiqian and Cao Huachun was average, but the two had never been at odds with each other.

Turning his head to look at Cao Huachun, Gao Qiqian spoke in a clear voice.

"Master Cao, if the outer city is in danger, our family will ask you for help..."

Cao Huachun waved his hands repeatedly and spoke while waving his hands.

"Master Gao, you must not say that. The emperor has asked you to be responsible for guarding the outer city. This is a great trust given to you and full trust in you. The main defense of the entire capital has always been in the outer city. If you decide to ask our family for help, then

The situation cannot be reversed.”

Cao Huachun said it very directly. The time has come and there is no need to be secretive.

Gao Qiqian shook his head and stopped talking.

Leaving Zhengyangmen, Gao Qi climbed onto the sedan chair.

The sky had completely darkened, and two people held up lanterns in front of the sedan to prevent the people carrying the sedan from seeing the road.

The quietness of the outer city is a bit breathtaking, but I don't feel it at all.

The sedan stopped somewhere, and a man in black approached the sedan.

Gao Qiqian opened the curtain and looked at the man in black.

"How is the situation our family wants you to prepare for?"

"I would like to report to you, Sir, of the nine gates in the outer city, only the number of rogues outside Guangqumen is smaller. In one day, there was basically no attack. The rest of the places were attacked by a large number of rogues..."

Gao Qiqian nodded.

"I know, go on."

The man in black nodded and continued to speak.

"I have been to Long'an Temple, which is next to Guangqumen. The abbot and monks in the temple are under strict supervision. No one pays attention to the passages in the temple..."

Gao Qiqian waved to the man in black.

After the man in black bowed and saluted, he turned and left.

After closing the curtain, he stood up and stamped his feet. The bearers who were resting nearby came over immediately, and the guards also came over.

The sedan headed towards the Yongdingmen barracks.

...

There were no stars in the sky, and no sound could be heard around. In such a huge capital, such quiet moments were rare. There were sergeants patrolling the streets, and anyone found to be irrelevant would be detained.

"Tell me, can this capital be defended..."

"I can't guard you. I heard that King Chuang is very kind to us people. If King Chuang breaks the city, we will go to him..."

"What are you talking about? If King Chuang conquers the capital, he will become emperor, and he will ask you and me to join him..."
Chapter completed!