The Ming Dynasty began in the seventeenth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign.

After reading the note the Crown Prince gave him, the Earl of Xinjian fell into deep thought...

Although there was much controversy surrounding his succession to the newly established earldom of the emperor, Wang Xiantong remained the most loyal nobleman of the Ming Dynasty, and he vowed to defend the capital to the death.

Before this, his determination to defend the capital to the death had never wavered, but after reading the Crown Prince's message, Wang Xiantong began to struggle internally.

From the Crown Prince's message, it can be seen that he had already predicted the fall of the capital and even the Jurchen invasion.

Furthermore, by forcing Wang Xiantong to surrender, they preserved their strength for the future recapture of the capital by the Ming army, clearly intending to make him a thorn in the enemy's rear!

It's unbelievable, considering the Crown Prince is only fifteen years old, a boy who has never attended court or been involved in politics...

While struggling internally, the Earl of Xinjian was also very pleased. The Crown Prince was no ordinary man and had the potential to become a wise ruler in the future!

Thinking of the Crown Prince and the future of the Ming Dynasty, he looked at the wounded soldiers on the city wall. Wang Xiantong gritted his teeth and decided to temporarily surrender to Li Zicheng.

He ordered his deputy to gather all the officers around him, announce his decision, and instruct them to reassure their subordinates to prevent anyone from taking extreme actions.

"Soldiers, the inner city has been breached by the bandits. There is no point in resisting any longer except to throw our lives away."

"For the safety of my soldiers and their families, and in order to welcome the Ming army to recapture the capital, I have decided to temporarily submit to the rebels."

"Of course, we cannot surrender unconditionally. I will negotiate with the bandit leader and do my best to protect our safety and interests."

While Benbo is negotiating with the bandits, you must all keep your soldiers calm and focused on carrying out orders without any hesitation!

The officers under Wang Xiantong's command were all his confidants. Upon hearing this, they were somewhat stunned. They had all prepared to fight the bandits to the death, but they did not expect that the Earl of Xinjian would want to surrender.

However, after realizing the situation, they quickly understood that it was just a feigned surrender, and they were waiting for the Ming army to arrive so they could coordinate an attack from within.

Who would choose to die if they could live? They all have families, and no one wants to be separated from their families by death. Dying in battle is the most helpless choice.

Dozens of officers hurriedly bowed in salute:

"Rest assured, my lord, I will follow you to the death, whether it be fighting to the death or feigning surrender..."

Wang Xiantong nodded upon hearing this, then walked down from the city wall, preparing to negotiate with the bandit leader.

As for his own safety, Wang Xiantong didn't consider it at all. He wasn't afraid of death, so what was he worried about?

Liu Zongmin, who was waiting impatiently below the city, would have ordered the cannons to be fired if Li Zicheng and Niu Jinxing had not been present.

"General, someone has come down from the city wall!"

Just as Liu Zongmin's patience was about to run out, a majestic Ming general walked down from the city gate...

This man was quite burly, clad in a golden helmet, golden armor, and a bright red battle robe, exuding an imposing aura. His expression was indifferent, showing no sign of fear.

Seeing this, Niu Jinxing hurriedly said to Li Zicheng:

"Chuang Wang, this person should be Wang Xiantong, the Earl of Xinjian!"

Li Zicheng nodded:

"Hmm, not bad, he's a formidable general. Let's talk to him ourselves!"

Li Zicheng disliked civil officials and landlords and gentry, but he did not dislike the military generals of the Ming Dynasty.

He dismounted and strode forward. Liu Zongmin, worried about falling, hurriedly followed.

"Wait a minute, Your Majesty! Be careful, it might be a trap..."

Li Zicheng ignored Liu Zongmin, stopped about two zhang in front of Wang Xiantong, and smiled:

"Could it be the Earl of Xinjian?"

Wang Xiantong did not know Li Zicheng, but seeing that the other party had an extraordinary demeanor and was one-eyed, he guessed that he must be Li Zicheng, the King of Chuang.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Li Zicheng and said calmly:

"That's me. And you are?"

Many noble civil officials surrendered to Li Zicheng, including princes. They mostly surrendered without a fight. Wang Xiantong, a fierce general who fought to the death, is the first of his kind.

Li Zicheng greatly admired him and, unusually for him, returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute.

"I have long admired the name of the Earl of Xinjian. If you are willing to submit, you may name your terms, and we will certainly agree."

Wang Xiantong was a descendant of a sage, while Li Zicheng was just a commoner. Of course, he looked down on him, but he didn't show it on his face.

Suppressing his displeasure, Wang Xiantong clasped his hands in a fist salute again and said:

"I am a defeated general, and dare not have too many expectations. My family and property are all in Tongzhou, and I hope to continue to garrison Tongzhou. If the King of Chuang has any orders, we will certainly obey!"

Wang Xiantong's meaning was clear: do not dismiss his three thousand soldiers; let them continue to garrison their strategically important location, Tongzhou!

The result of Li Zicheng's discussion with Niu Jinxing was that Wang Xiantong would continue to garrison Tongzhou. Of course, Niu Jinxing would not refuse, and upon hearing this, he immediately burst into laughter.

"Alright, we agree to your terms, and the title of Earl of Xinjian will remain unchanged. We hope that Earl Xinjian will remain loyal to Da Shun."

Those who submitted to the Great Shun were treated well; not only were they allowed to continue garrisoning Tongzhou, but they also retained their newly established earldom.

Wang Xiantong felt no joy whatsoever. As a descendant of a sage, he knew that if the Crown Prince could not lead his troops to recover the lost territories, he would have no face to meet his ancestors.

"Thank you, King Chuang. Many of my men are wounded; let's take them back to Tongzhou to rest and recuperate!"

Wang Xiantong bowed and thanked him, expressing his wish to lead his troops away from the capital.

Li Zicheng was in a good mood and waved his hand, laughing:

"Granted!"

After Wang Xiantong left, Niu Jinxing hurriedly offered his flattery:

"Congratulations, King Chuang! The Great Shun Dynasty has gained another valiant general!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zongmin snorted coldly:

"Stop flattering him, you old fox. We think this is extremely risky. Look at his arrogant attitude; he might stab us in the back later!"

Li Zicheng patted Liu Zongmin on the shoulder and laughed:

"Rest assured, the north of the Ming Dynasty is entirely under our control. What trouble can three thousand soldiers cause? If they dare to betray us, we'll wipe them out. Prepare to attack the capital!"

Upon hearing the news of an attack on the imperial city, Liu Zongmin immediately thought of Emperor Chongzhen's many concubines and palace maids, and his spirits lifted. He shouted:

"Guards! Convey my order: attack the Ming imperial city!"

"yes!"

At a single command, tens of thousands of peasant soldiers charged toward the imperial city...

……

Qianqing Palace

Hearing the shouts of battle approaching from afar, Chongzhen got up and headed towards Coal Hill, with Old Wang hurriedly following...

At this moment, Wang Chengen had no idea what the emperor was going to do; he only knew that wherever the emperor went, he would go too!

The palace has been emptied, and not a single garrison has been left in the imperial city. Once the inner city is breached, the rebel army can directly enter the Ming Dynasty's Forbidden City.

The tragedy of thousands of eunuchs and palace maids dying in battle at the Forbidden City in history will not be repeated.

All of this was because of Crown Prince Zhu Cilang, who was unwilling to let these poor people die in vain.

He time-traveled too late, but he was able to save his mother, aunt, younger brother and sister, and other relatives, as well as the lives of countless eunuchs and palace women.

But Zhu Cilang could not save Chongzhen, who was determined to die for his country, nor could he ruin the most glorious moment of Chongzhen's life, the Zhuanglie Emperor!

As the morning sun rose, Emperor Chongzhen ascended Jingshan Hill, also known as Coal Hill!

Having spent a sleepless night and observing the battle from the city wall for half a day, Emperor Chongzhen was very weak, panting and walking heavily...

"Your Majesty, please slow down!"

Wang Chengen was already old. Seeing the emperor staggering, he hurriedly stepped forward to support Chongzhen, and the two of them walked forward step by step...

Soon, Chongzhen stopped and looked back at the Ming capital, engulfed in flames of war. Two lines of tears rolled down his gaunt cheeks...

Let's go!

After walking a while longer, Chongzhen saw a crooked old locust tree next to him. He was stunned for a moment, and then slowly walked over.

Arriving at the crooked tree, Chongzhen gestured with his hand; the tree was about two feet taller than him…

"Is this the crooked tree my son mentioned?"

"It's all fate, destiny, and all that is predestined. My ministers have misled me!"