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

"Your Highness, are you sure you want to see the rebel leader?"

"If you wish to leave the capital, I will let you go!"

Li Yan took a huge risk by letting Crown Prince Zhu Cilang leave quietly.

Once Li Zicheng got the news, he would definitely be doomed, but Li Yan did not regret it, after all, he had been a scholar who passed the imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty.

Li Yan would never have peace of mind if he witnessed the death of Zhu Cilang, the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, at the hands of Li Zicheng.

To be honest, Li Yan was initially unwilling to join Li Zicheng; he was forced onto the pirate ship by Hong Niangzi.

After joining Li Zicheng's rebel army, Li Zicheng valued him highly and implemented most of the suggestions he made.

"Equal land distribution and tax exemption"

It was proposed by Li Yan.

These four words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves in the hearts of the vast number of poor farmers.

For a long time, the people, suffering from land annexation and heavy taxes, responded enthusiastically and joined Li Zicheng's peasant army. The army expanded rapidly and its power was at its zenith...

Therefore, Li Zicheng trusted Li Yan even more.

This aroused Niu Jinxing's jealousy, and he often took the opportunity to ostracize and suppress Li Yan in front of Li Zicheng.

At first, Li Zicheng ignored Niu Jinxing's words and simply laughed them off. Niu Jinxing was an old man who had followed him in the uprising.

As the peasant army advanced relentlessly towards the capital, serious problems began to emerge in military discipline, with many soldiers turning against civilians.

Li Yan was very dissatisfied with this and often suggested that Li Zicheng severely punish the offending soldiers...

Those soldiers who committed the offenses were all veterans who had followed Li Zicheng through thick and thin, especially his good brother Liu Zongmin's subordinates. Li Zicheng was worried about causing dissatisfaction among his men, so he did not take any action.

Niu Jinxing seized every opportunity to stir up trouble in Li Zicheng's ear, saying that Li Yan was a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations in the Ming Dynasty and could not forget the Ming Dynasty, etc.

Gradually, Li Zicheng began to grow annoyed by Li Yan's advice and suggestions...

This is also why Li Zicheng later tacitly approved Niu Jinxing's killing of Li Yan!

If Li Zicheng had listened to Li Yan's advice after the peasant army entered Beijing, history might have been different...

Of course, Li Yan had no idea that his fate would take a turn a few months later; he was still one of Li Zicheng's important strategists.

Zhu Cilang knew that Li Yan was a good person, but he did not expect to let him leave. He was very touched and became even more determined to win Li Yan over.

Zhu Cilang clasped his hands in a fist salute again and said:

"Thank you, General, for risking your life to let us leave the city. However, I believe the King of Chuang will not harm me. In order for my father to be laid to rest as soon as possible, I must see him. Please grant my request, General!"

Looking at the resolute gaze of the boy before him, Li Yan sighed helplessly:

"Very well, Your Highness, please come with me to the capital. I will do my best to save your life!"

After saying this, Li Yan turned around and went to discuss it with Hong Niangzi.

Finally, they decided to offer 80,000 taels of silver and 10,000 shi of grain to the rebel leader, hoping he would spare Zhu Cilang's life.

……

When the rebel army captured the capital and overthrew the Ming Dynasty, Li Zicheng was very happy, but at the same time, he was also very troubled.

What's bothering him?

Of course, it's a hassle that costs money!

Li Zicheng had assumed that the Ming Dynasty's treasury and Emperor Chongzhen's private funds were overflowing with gold and silver treasures, but the reality was extremely disappointing.

The Ming Dynasty's treasury was empty, and Emperor Chongzhen's personal funds amounted to only tens of thousands of taels of silver.

Thinking of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers under his command, and then of the unpaid military pay and huge rewards owed to them, Li Zicheng couldn't help but add a few more strands of white hair...

He was restless in the Qianqing Palace, constantly thinking about how to make money.

Before entering the capital, Li Yan advised that once inside the city, it was essential to appease the people and Ming officials in order to consolidate the Shun regime.

They had no stable base of operations, and after conquering each city, they relied entirely on robbing local tyrants and killing officials to raise funds for their army.

Now that the purge of the gentry, officials, and nobles in the capital has suddenly stopped, where will the military funds come from?

"Your Majesty, Li Yan requests an audience!"

Suddenly, a guard came to report.

Now, Li Zicheng felt uneasy whenever he heard Li Yan's name, mainly because he was worried that Li Yan would dissuade him from looting the gentry, powerful officials, and nobles of the capital.

But he couldn't refuse Li Yan, so he shook his head and said:

"Let him in!"

Soon, Li Yan stepped in and bowed to Li Zicheng:

"Greetings, Your Majesty! Congratulations on the unification of the Central Plains by the Great Shun Dynasty

It can only be said that while the Central Plains were unified, the Jiangnan region was still in the hands of the Ming court, and the area outside the Great Wall was now entirely under the control of the Jurchens.

Li Zicheng smiled and stepped forward to help Li Yan up.

"Hahaha……"

"No need for formalities, please take a seat!"

Li Yan did not sit down; instead, he bowed again.

"Your Majesty, today I encountered a young man seeking refuge. He claims to be Crown Prince Zhu Cilang and requests an audience. I have brought him here. Would Your Majesty wish to see him?"

"what……"

Upon hearing the name of the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, Li Zicheng was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. He had been worried about not being able to find the Chongzhen Emperor, and this was like a pillow delivered to his sleepy head.

"Yes, we absolutely must see him! Let him in quickly!"

After speaking, Li Zicheng immediately sat back on the dragon throne, awaiting the arrival of the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty.

"As you command!"

Before Li Yan entered, he instructed Zhu Cilang to wait outside the hall.

Just as Zhu Cilang was gazing sadly at the Qianqing Palace, Li Yan strode up to him and said:

"The rebel leader wants to see you. Come with me quickly, and remember, do not anger him!"

"Thank you, General. Rest assured, I know what's important!"

Zhu Cilang knew that Li Zicheng had never made things difficult for him in history, and he was not worried about his life or death. He followed Li Yan to Li Zicheng.

Li Zicheng sat on Chongzhen's dragon throne, his one eye gleaming as he stared intently at the young man who entered.

A courier and a crown prince.

Today, the two men's identities have undergone a complete transformation, giving Li Zicheng a feeling of looking down on the world.

Zhu Cilang remained calm inside, but outwardly appeared slightly nervous. This nervousness was for Li Zicheng's benefit, to make Li Zicheng underestimate him.

He cupped his hands to Li Zicheng and said:

"Zhu Cilang greets Your Majesty!"

The Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, who was once so high and mighty, is now a prisoner of a post station worker.

At this moment, Li Zicheng felt incredibly proud.

He remained silent, his single eye fixed coldly on Zhu Cilang, intending to thoroughly intimidate the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty.

Li Zicheng remained silent, and Zhu Cilang also stopped speaking, and the hall fell into a temporary silence!

Li Yan's legs were trembling slightly. He was very nervous. What should he do if Li Zicheng wanted to kill Zhu Cilang?

After a moment, seeing that Zhu Cilang was somewhat nervous but did not show much fear, Li Zicheng suddenly burst into laughter:

"Haha, so you are the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty! Please take a seat!"

"I was once a subject of the Ming Dynasty. I only started a rebellion because I could not survive. My initial goal was to have enough to eat and wear, but I was constantly being chased by government troops."

"As the army gradually grew stronger, the rebel army had the strength to fight on equal footing with the imperial army, but I never thought of overthrowing the imperial court."

"After leading the rebel army to capture Changping, I sent someone to negotiate with Emperor Chongzhen, hoping that the Ming court would provide some military pay and grant me a fiefdom."

"But the court remained indifferent, neither providing military pay nor granting fiefdoms. I cannot betray my brothers under my command, so I have no choice but to attack the capital."

"Rest assured, I was once a subject of the Ming Dynasty. As long as you provide information about the whereabouts of Emperor Chongzhen, I will treat you well. What do you say?"

Li Zicheng spoke eloquently, yet he repeatedly referred to himself as "朕" (the imperial "I").

This clearly tells Zhu Cilang that the Ming Dynasty is finished and that he is now the emperor.