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

Although Liu Zongmin's torture was brutal.

But most of the Ming Dynasty officials, nobles, imperial relatives, gentry, and civil officials all deserved to die.

As officials, they studied the classics and enjoyed the salaries of the court.

For the sake of their own happiness, they disregarded the survival of the nation; each and every one of them was greedy, selfish, and self-serving.

All of this is deserved.

For those familiar with Ming Dynasty history, this was a truly gratifying revelation…

During Liu Zongmin's torture, Li Yan took the opportunity to take away a hundred craftsmen from the Bureau of Armory.

Among them were gun and cannon makers, as well as armor makers and gunpowder makers.

Li Yan was a thoughtful man, and he took the craftsmen's families with him as well.

After temporarily settling the craftsmen at the camp, Li Yan headed to Zhu Cilang's camp.

Upon seeing Li Yan arrive, the guards stationed outside Zhu Cilang's barracks immediately went inside to report:

"Young master, General Li Yan has arrived."

Zhu Cilang nodded, and was about to get up to greet him when Li Yan stepped in.

Upon seeing Zhu Cilang, he sighed softly and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Your Highness, I have seen your brilliant strategy. As you predicted, the torture resulted in the deaths of many Ming Dynasty officials and nobles. I have successfully protected Wu Sangui's family."

Zhu Cilang smiled and nodded, but in his heart he was thinking:

"My family escaped death, but I don't know what excuse Wu Sangui will use to surrender to the Qing."

Seeing that Zhu Cilang was somewhat stunned, Li Yan did not disturb him and stood respectfully to the side to wait.

Li Yan had previously respected Zhu Cilang because he was the Crown Prince.

Now things are different. His predictions have all come true, and he has been completely convinced by Zhu Cilang.

Coming to his senses, Zhu Cilang nodded to Li Yan:

"Well done. Hopefully, this can save Wu Sangui and his family. However, based on my understanding of Wu Sangui, there are still uncertainties."

After saying this, Zhu Cilang smiled and said:

"Sir, you must have come here today for another matter?"

Li Yan nodded:

"As Your Highness requested, the artisans from the Armory and their families have been taken to the camp. What are their arrangements?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang was overjoyed.

Historically, after the torture was carried out, the generals of the Shun army received enormous wealth and were so overjoyed that they forgot all their worries and indulged in revelry.

Even after the defeat at Shanhai Pass, Li Zicheng never thought of properly resettling the artisans of the Ordnance Bureau.

Therefore, Li Zicheng should not have discovered that Li Yan had taken away the artisans from the weapons bureau before this.

"Very well, sir, you are very talented. The craftsmen will remain at the camp, and their families will be settled in Tongzhou so that they have no worries about their families."

Li Yan was taken aback:

Why were the craftsmen's families relocated to Tongzhou?

Zhu Cilang smiled mysteriously:

"Wang Xiantong is stationed in Tongzhou. He is upright and a good person, and can ensure the stability of Tongzhou. Sir, please send a trusted confidant to have Wang Xiantong come to the camp as soon as possible."

"Yes, Your Highness, please wait a moment. I will send someone immediately."

……

通州

The Crown Prince ordered Wang Xiantong to surrender to the Shun Dynasty. He led his troops to cause trouble for Liu Zongmin first, and then surrendered after being personally persuaded to do so by Li Zicheng.

Li Zicheng appointed him as the General of Tongzhou, leading the original troops to guard Tongzhou. He did not send any civil officials to govern the city, and he was responsible for all daily affairs.

Wang Xiantong held both military and political power, acting as both father and mother to his family!

Historically, he resolutely resisted, and was ultimately sacrificed by Li Zicheng.

In fact, Li Zicheng also appreciated this kind of general, and he would treat any general who was willing to surrender well.

People like Tang Tong were not only granted official titles and ranks, but their troops remained unchanged and were still under their command.

This approach can win people's hearts in a short time, but it also leaves huge hidden dangers.

After the defeat at Shanhai Pass, these opportunists rose up against the Shun dynasty; otherwise, how could the Jurchens have so easily taken control of the Central Plains?

Wang Xiantong still doesn't understand why the Crown Prince wanted him to surrender to Li Zicheng when he was wholeheartedly loyal to the Ming Dynasty.

"My lord, General Li Yan has sent someone to request an audience!"

Suddenly, a subordinate reported that Li Yan had sent someone to request an audience.

General Zhi wielded considerable power; the Great Shun Dynasty only had two generals with such power: Liu Zongmin and Tian Jianxiu.

Li Guo, Gao Yigong, Yuan Zongdi, Hao Yaoqi, and other generals were all generals who governed the country.

Li Yan was different from other generals. He did not have many troops under his command, nor were they the main force of the attack. Including the female soldiers of Hong Niangzi, he had less than 10,000 troops in total.

Upon hearing that Li Yan had sent someone, Wang Xiantong did not delay and immediately went to see the person.

Upon seeing Wang Xiantong, the visitor hurriedly knelt on one knee to pay his respects:

"Greetings, Lord."

Wang Xiantong nodded:

"No need for formalities. What brings you to see me?"

"General, General Li Yan requests to meet at your camp."

Wang Xiantong was taken aback. Why did Li Yan want him to come to the camp for a chat? He and Li Yan didn't seem to have any relationship.

He frowned and asked:

Are there any other generals from the Great Shun regime in the camp?

"Reporting to the General, apart from Young Master Zhou, there are no other outsiders."

Wang Xiantong was confused again:

"Who is Master Zhou?"

Zhu Cilang's identity was very important, and apart from Li Yan and his wife, no one in the army knew about it.

Upon hearing this, the visitor shook his head:

"I don't know. Young Master Zhou is not very old, only in his teens. The General and his wife respect him very much."

"Could it be...?"

Wang Xiantong thought of someone and, without further hesitation, immediately led a team of guards to the Xishan camp.

Upon arriving at the Xishan camp, we found soldiers patrolling and training, all looking energetic and full of fighting spirit...

Wang Xiantong had visited the camps of other Shun army generals, and found them chaotic and disorderly, not at all like a regular army.

He couldn't help but nod inwardly:

"Li Yan's military leadership is indeed exceptional. I wonder if Your Highness is here?"

Upon entering the camp, his guards were settled in a barracks for water and rest, while the messenger led Wang Xiantong to Zhu Cilang's barracks.

"General, please wait a moment, I will go and inform them!"

Wang Xiantong nodded, and the soldiers entered Zhu Cilang's barracks.

Soon, Zhu Cilang and Li Yan came out from inside.

Upon seeing Zhu Cilang, Wang Xiantong was overjoyed and excited, and hurriedly stepped forward to kneel in worship...

Zhu Cilang caught him and whispered:

"No need for formalities, let's go inside and talk."

Li Yan cupped his hands and smiled:

"Welcome, Uncle Xinjian, please come in!"

Wang Xiantong hurriedly returned the greeting to Li Yan with his hands clasped in respect.

"Thank you, General, for taking such good care of His Highness!"

The three of them entered Zhu Cilang's barracks together.

As soon as he entered the room, Wang Xiantong knelt down at Zhu Cilang's feet with a thud:

"Your humble servant Wang Xiantong pays his respects to Your Highness!"

As he spoke, the dignified eight-foot-tall Earl of Xinjian, Wang Xiantong, burst into tears, crying like a child...

He wept for Emperor Chongzhen, for the Ming Dynasty, for the safety of the Crown Prince, and for his own incompetence…

Li Yan's eyes were also a little red, and she quietly turned around to personally make tea for Wang Xiantong...

Zhu Cilang bent down to help Wang Xiantong up, but found that Wang Xiantong refused to get up no matter what. He then knelt down and embraced the Earl of Xinjian, weeping...

Li Yan brewed the tea and quietly left, knowing that Zhu Cilang and Wang Xiantong had some things they couldn't say to his face.

Li Yan was conflicted. He didn't want to betray Li Zicheng, nor did he want to escape with Zhu Cilang, and he wasn't afraid of Zhu Cilang raising an army.

Although Zhu Cilang was the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, he had no troops or power at this time. Wang Xiantong only had more than 20,000 men under his command, and they could not cause any trouble.

A moment later, Wang Xiantong noticed that the Crown Prince was also kneeling, so he hurriedly got up and helped Zhu Cilang to his feet.

"Your Highness, this is an insult to a disgraced official! Rise immediately!"

Zhu Cilang, helped up by Wang Xiantong, pointed to a wooden chair beside him and said:

"Please sit down and have some tea!"

"Your Highness, I dare not sit; standing is sufficient. Please do not hesitate to give your orders, even at the cost of my life!"