At the beginning of the Youshi period, a fast horse galloped into the city. The knight on the horse was covered in blood, staggered, and fell down in the city gate.

When the flag officer on duty saw that it was Tang Qi, he hurriedly took off the rider's backpack and ordered his men to quickly take him to the Governor's Yamen.

It was already dusk, and Zhang Guowei had just finished handling the matter of moving people from villages and towns around Hangzhou Fucheng into the city, and was preparing to clean up. He would host a banquet for the wealthy merchants in the city in the evening, and try to find a way to exchange all the antique calligraphy and paintings sent by King Lu into silver.

Suddenly, a blood-stained newspaper was delivered to his desk. Zhang Guowei was shocked and hurriedly took it to the candlelight and started reading.

The Tang newspaper was sent from Deqing County. Three thousand men from Liu Liangzuo, the vanguard of the Qing army, captured Wukang County. The county magistrate committed suicide by falling into the city, and all remaining officials surrendered. Currently, Liu Liangzuo's troops are stationed in Wukang County for repairs, waiting for the main force of the Qing army.

After reading it, Zhang Guowei took out the map of Southern Zhili and looked at it. Wukang had been defeated, and the isolated city of Deqing was difficult to defend. It could not hold out for long. If the Qing army attacked urgently, it would probably fall within one day, and within three days, they would reach Tangqi.

Near the foot of Hangzhou City.

Zhang Guowei felt heavy for a moment. After sitting for a while, he picked up the newspaper and went straight to Prince Lu's Mansion.

The sky was getting dark quickly, and there was a constant flow of people on the street, but everyone looked panicked.

In Prince Lu's Mansion, Zhu Changzi was discussing with King Chu of Tang Dynasty in the back garden about going to Zheng Hongkui's camp tomorrow.

"Reporting to the prison, Governor Zhang asked to see you." The guards from the mansion came to report.

"Please come here." Zhu Changzi knew that it must be a big deal for Zhang Guowei to come to see him in person so late.

Upon seeing this, the kings of Chu and Tang stood up and left.

Soon, Zhang Guowei came over in a hurry. After saluting, he directly reported the news of the fall of Wukang to Zhu Changzi.

"With the fall of Wukang, it seems that the Qing army will besiege Hangzhou within five days at the latest."

"If it's quick, it only takes three days."

Zhu Changzi nodded, but he guessed that the Qing army would not rush to attack Hangzhou, because since the Qing army went south, it had fought continuously and traveled long distances, and its military strength was exhausted. There is a high probability that the Qing army would wait for the partial divisions to gather together before attacking together.

It seems that we can't wait until tomorrow. We must hold Zheng Hongkui's boat master in his hands tonight. He has ordered people to investigate and find out that at this moment, Zheng Hongkui has gathered more than 3,000 Zhenjiang troops on the Qiantang River, which is a big force.

Combat strength.

"Supervise the country..." Zhang Guowei hesitated to speak.

"You have something to say, but it's okay to say it!" Zhu Changzi knew that Zhang Guowei couldn't come in person just to send a message.

"I have the courage to ask myself to take charge of the war in Hangzhou, and I ask the supervisor to grant me the right to act expediently!" Zhang Guowei knelt down and said.

Zhu Changzi thought for a moment and understood in his heart that now Hangzhou City has become the center of the Ming Dynasty. There are too many constraints, making Zhang Guowei, the governor, somewhat unable to let go. Not to mention himself as the supervisor, there is also the chief minister Ma Shiying.
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There are many old ministers of Hongguang in Hangzhou now. The reason why he has not made any appointments is because he does not want to have too many internal disputes at such a critical moment.

"Please come up quickly, Yu Shen. This matter was caused by my negligence. I then issued an edict that Yu Shen should only do the work, and I will take care of the rest for you!" Zhu Changqi helped Zhang Guowei up. In fact, he was so nervous just now.

There was a moment of hesitation, but then I started laughing at myself. It was a matter of life and death, so there was nothing to hesitate about.

Zhang Guowei stood up, bowed solemnly again, and said generously: "Thank you very much for your trust in me. I will live up to your trust! I will take my leave first!"

"I also want to go to Zheng Hongkui's camp, so I won't see you off." Zhu Changzi put his hands behind his back and nodded.

"Why should the governor go in person? It's too dangerous!" Zhang Guowei hurriedly advised. He knew that Zheng Hongkui was gathering the defeated troops on the river. At this time, his camp must be full of fish and dragons. It was really unsafe for King Lu to go in person.

Zhu Changzi waved his hand and said confidently: "For the sake of the Ming Dynasty, the soldiers can fight bloody battles. As a descendant of the Zhu family, how can I stay behind?"

Zhang Guowei was silent, filled with emotion in his heart. He bowed and bowed solemnly, turned around and disappeared into the night with brisk steps.

......

Just when Zhu Changzi was heading to the Qiantang River in the south of the city, he received a letter at Ma Shiying's mansion in the east of the city.

In the study, the candles are bright.

Ruan Dacheng, Zhang Bingzhen, and Ma Shiying are discussing the matter of persuading people to join.

In the corner of the study room, there was an older civil servant, listening quietly and keeping silent.

At this time, there was a knock on the door, and a servant's voice came from outside: "Master, a letter has arrived."

Ma Shiying's expression changed, and she stared at the people for a while before signaling to Ruan Dacheng.

Ruan Dacheng was closest to the door, so he got up to get it.

After getting the letter, Ma Shiying turned to look at the civil servant sitting in the corner and said: "Huang Shangshu, there is nothing going on here. Please go back. Submit a letter as soon as possible to ask the governor to ascend the throne. This matter should be done sooner rather than later."

Huang Daozhou, who had a stern look on his face, nodded silently, stood up to say goodbye, and went out to leave.

Walking through the green and beautiful garden of Ma Mansion, Huang Daozhou looked pitiful and looked back at Ma Shiying's study, wondering about the origin of the letter.

After Huang Daozhou left, Ma Shiying opened the letter. After reading it carefully, he pondered without saying a word and handed the letter to Zhang Bingzhen. Ruan Dacheng also stepped forward to read it together.

"Hey, Prince Yu's handwritten letter!" Ruan Dacheng exclaimed like a fool who has never seen the world.

Ma Shiying glared at him and said: "A high-ranking official with a generous salary is recruiting us. Why, are you tempted?"

Ruan Dacheng scratched his head and said with a smile: "It would be a lie to say that I'm not excited. Isn't studying just to be an official? It doesn't matter who I do, as long as I am prosperous and wealthy for the rest of my life."

Zhang Bingzhen heard this and sneered: "You are really a scum of scholars, unfaithful and unfilial!"

"Hey, all the nobles and nobles of the old Zhu family in Nanjing have been demoted. How can I not be demoted? Zhang Fuzhi, you are noble and noble, you are amazing!" Ruan Dacheng retorted, and he was really very jealous of Zhang Bingzhen, a stubborn person with a tough mouth.

Disdain. Hypocrisy, really hypocrisy.

"Okay, whoever wants to surrender this letter will take it." Ma Shiying put the autographed letter from Prince Duduo of Henan on the table, got up and walked to the door, then turned around and said: "I estimate that in three or four days, Qing Dynasty will

The army will arrive soon, so hurry up if you want to leave the city, otherwise it will be difficult for Zhang Guowei to leave once the city is closed."

After saying that, Ma Shiying left the study without looking back.

Zhang Bingzhen glanced at the letter on the table, hesitated a little, and thought for a long time, but finally did not take it, got up and left.

Ruan Dacheng was the only one left in the room. He turned left and right around the letter, muttering something in his mouth. After wandering for a long time, he finally reached out and stuffed the letter into his arms, then sneaked out of the study and left in a hurry.

Mafu.

......

At this time, Zhang Guowei was hosting a banquet for wealthy merchants in the city's best restaurant to raise money for donations. Zhu Changzi also took Chu King Zhu Huabi to Zheng Hongkui's barracks by the Qiantang River under the protection of the palace guards.

Xu Shizhong, northeast of Hangzhou City, Genshan Gate.

Zhang Huangyan was holding the token, calling the city gate open, and entered the city smelling of alcohol.

"Thank you for your hard work!"

"You're welcome, sir!"

After exchanging a few words with Xiao Qi on duty, Zhang Huangyan was about to return to the governor's office when he turned around and saw a carriage slowly approaching.

The flag officer frowned and stepped forward to stop the carriage.

"Who dares to break the ban and leave the city?" Xiao Qi asked, holding the knife on his waist.

I saw the carriage curtain opened, and Ruan Dacheng's huge head stuck out, holding a Ministry of War token in his hand, and said arrogantly: "You are so blind that you can't recognize the Ministry of War token?"

The little flag took the torch handed over by his subordinates, took a closer look, and then smiled and said, "I really don't recognize it."

"Presumptuous!" Ruan Dacheng said angrily, but he was murmuring in his heart. His token was genuine. It was just made by Hongguang Dynasty. Ordinary soldiers could not tell the difference. They would only salute and give way when seeing the token from the Ministry of War. Today

Is it possible that this little flag is still a cultural person?

Just when Ruan Dacheng was doubtful, he heard the little flag saying faintly: "Half an hour ago, the Supervisor of the State issued an order. Since receiving the order, all important military and political affairs in Zhejiang and Zhejiang Provinces are subject to the royal seal and the governor's order. Apart from this,

All invalid."

Ruan Dacheng's expression suddenly changed and he secretly took back the token in his hand.

"Oh, by the way, my lord, haven't you received the order to supervise the country?" the flag officer sneered. He already believed that the person in front of him was a ghost, and secretly hinted to the soldiers to surround the carriage.

Zhang Huangyan watched with great interest and burped from time to time. He recognized Ruan Dacheng. Every time he paid a visit to King Lu, this guy would stick his butt out so high that he was deeply impressed.

"It's not a business emergency. I was in a hurry to leave the city, so I didn't receive it." Ruan Dacheng said with a straight face and a pretentious attitude.

"The supervisor of the country decrees that all matters in Hangzhou should be handed over to the Governor's Yamen, and Governor Zhang is given the power to do things for his own convenience. He has the power to kill first and report later. If you want to go out of town, you must first get the order from the Governor's Yamen!" The little flag officer said while observing the surroundings.

, seeing that his men had surrounded the carriage, he stopped talking nonsense and shouted loudly: "Get this person!"

Ruan Dacheng was startled. Before he could react, he was dragged off the carriage by the soldiers who had climbed onto the carriage.

Ruan Dacheng was pinned to the ground with a confused look on his face. He didn't expect that Xiao Qi was so brave and would take action as soon as he was told. While struggling, he happened to see Zhang Huangyan watching the excitement not far away, and hurriedly shouted: "Brother Xuanzhu, save me."

Me!"

But Zhang Huangyan laughed, waved his hands, and replied loudly: "I drank too much, I won't drink anymore!", and then pretended to be drunk and wandered away.

Ruan Dacheng was tied up tightly. Looking at Zhang Huangyan who was pretending to be stupid, he said angrily: "If a scholar doesn't save a scholar, what kind of scholar are you? Bah bah bah!"

Snap!

The flag officer slapped him with a big mouth and cursed impatiently: "What are you barking at? To tell you the truth, Governor Zhang has already given secret orders to prevent you old officials from running away."

"Wow!" Ruan Dacheng was slapped to death. When he saw Xiaoqi groping around on his body, he let out a dog bark and bit Xiaoqi's hand.

The little flag was about to teach Ruan Dacheng a lesson, when another carriage came speeding over.
Chapter completed!