As the ruling center of Sichuan and Huguang, this small city once again exudes brilliance.
Travelers from north to south stopped here, and a large number of officials and soldiers came here to report. Especially the large amount of consumption brought by the army and their families gave this city a prosperous market.
The brand-new Yamen highlights the new dynasty and new atmosphere.
And in the west of the city, near the high ground of Xiangyang City, even if the Han River bursts its embankment, it will be difficult to flood, so it naturally becomes the location of your district.
More than a dozen vassal kings, including King Rui, King Qin, King Xiang, and King Jing, all lived here. Although they lost their freedom, they gained a stable life.
On this day, Prince Rui went to Prince Yu's Mansion out of breath and was cordially received by the headmaster Zhao Shu.
"Your Highness's stay is quite comfortable?"
Zhao Shu had a gentle attitude towards King Rui and said with concern: "If there is anyone who is not discerning, just tell me directly and someone will naturally discipline him."
King Rui Zhu Changhao waved his hand with a smile: "It's okay. Although it's not as comfortable as living in the palace, you don't have to worry and you can sleep peacefully."
"That's good!"
Zhao Shu chuckled softly.
He raised his eyes and stared at the King Rui, who was in his fifties. He had a broad face, big ears, and smiling eyebrows. He seemed to be a well-off old man, without any hint of the majesty of a prince.
Stay safe, this is the message given to him by the Public Security Bureau.
It is no wonder that His Royal Highness King Yu made him the leader of other vassal kings. In addition to seniority, aging is also an important reason.
For example, the young King of Qin was prone to acting on impulse.
After pondering for a while, Zhao Shu's eyebrows moved, his expression calmed down a little, and he said seriously: "Your Highness, I shouldn't have kept the news from you, but now that the matter has come to this, I have to do it!"
"Ah?" King Lao Rui was shocked and his fat body trembled. Could it be that King Yu was defeated?
"Did it really happen?"
"Have you heard of this news?" Zhao Shu was slightly surprised and said with regret: "I never expected this, but it has happened. It is really a tragedy for the people of the world."
Tragedy? It seems that not only was he defeated, he was probably killed...
"Yes!" King Lao Rui's heart dropped even more. He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and breathed quickly: "You are so young, just..."
"Hiccup, burp, burp--"
Hiccups continued, like a rooster, and King Lao Rui couldn't help crying, his round face wrinkled into chrysanthemums, covered with a handkerchief, and choked with sobs.
If King Yu is gone, he really won't be able to return home...
"Your Highness, I express my condolences and accept the change——"
Seeing this, Zhao Shu was afraid that he would lose his temper, and hurriedly patted his back while persuading him: "Although it is unexpected, the reality is such that we have to face the future!"
"The future?" King Lao Rui calmed down and raised his slightly cloudy eyes: "What future is there?"
"Although His Majesty is missing, the Ming Dynasty cannot be without a king for a day. We still need to make plans for this matter in advance!"
Zhao Shu said seriously.
"Your Majesty?" King Rui's voice was filled with confusion, confusion, and surprise.
"The city of Nanjing was destroyed. Wang Duo, Qian Qianyi, Zhao Zhilong and other civil and military officials surrendered to the Manchu Qing Dynasty. The first assistant, Ma Shiying, and His Majesty have disappeared!"
Zhao Shu said with regret.
King Lao Rui breathed a sigh of relief, and his sinking heart lifted halfway, and he sighed: "Fu Fan is really ill-fated, how can the emperor's position be so easy to sit on..."
After a while, he realized what it meant that a country cannot live without a king for a day.
"You mean, say-"
King Rui stuttered and pointed in the direction of the sky: "Yu, King Yu——"
"That's right!"
Zhao Shu immediately agreed, not caring about his nervousness, but said calmly: "King Yu has captured the city of Xi'an, and Li Zicheng's life or death is still uncertain. This can be regarded as revenge for the late emperor."
"Now, His Majesty has also lost the city and disappeared. There is a huge disparity in the throne. How can it be left empty?"
"In peacetime, we talk about the relationship between concubines and concubines, while in war, we talk about military exploits. Among all the kings in the world, who has more military exploits than King Yu? Who is more qualified to compete for the throne than him?"
It took King Rui a long time to calm down and recover from the shock. After hearing these words, he had to nod his head and said: "Indeed, there is almost no one in the world who can compare with King Yu."
Seeing this, Zhao Shu smiled slightly and said, "So, His Highness also approves of King Yu becoming emperor?"
"This..." King Rui spread his hands and said: "I am very old. Although I am senior and belong to a close branch, after all, I have no power and no soldiers. How can anyone listen to what I say?"
"You are a veteran in the clan, who dares to refute you so easily?"
Zhao Shu didn't take it seriously and said, "The King of Yu has agreed to expel the Jiannu slaves in the future. With the Ming Dynasty at the center, you will definitely be given the throne in the new dynasty."
"You must know that after the rise of Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty, the vassal kings of the previous dynasty were just princes."
King Rui's heart moved, and he was momentarily tempted.
At his age, he has almost no chance of becoming emperor.
Therefore, my biggest wish at the moment is to survive and preserve the wealth that has existed for generations.
In any case, the throne of a new dynasty is full of gold.
"What do you want me to do?" King Lao Rui immediately made up his mind and asked.
"Convince other vassal kings and ask them to write a letter begging King Yu to supervise the country!"
"Jianguo?" King Lao Rui took a breath, nodded and said, "It seems that King Yu's steps are more solid than expected."
Zhao Shu showed a sincere smile: "King Yu, he will never forget your friendship for him."
King Lao Rui was so happy that he couldn't open his mouth from ear to ear.
I came to persuade other feudal kings with the promise of guarantee.
Watching him leave, Zhao Shu shook his head: "It's as everyone expected. It's just a pity that it's difficult for me to go to Luoyang."
He stared northward with a faint smile on his lips.
At the same time, a large number of gentry, right-wingers, or voluntarily or forced to come to Luoyang City to participate in a massive petition.
After the two speeches in Xi'an City, Zhu Yixi left the third speech to Luoyang.
Hundreds of people gather here, and the crowds are densely packed, which is quite spectacular.
The former Prince Fu's Mansion was now seriously damaged, so Prince Yu stayed there without hesitation. The simple accommodation environment seemed to make him happy.
Public opinion also appreciated him more and more.
Whether it was military merit, morality, or loyalty to the court, especially his re-entering Luoyang to avenge his humiliation, it was very exciting.
Everyone selectively forgot the fact that King Yu abandoned Luoyang, and rushed to discuss the shining points of His Highness King Yu.
On this day, the sky was bright again and the warm sun was shining in the sky. Thousands of people, including scholars and officials, marched towards Prince Fu's Mansion in a mighty manner.
Along the way, more and more people gathered together, and people looked along the street, watching this novel scene.
I saw this group of scholars wearing long robes and square scarves kneeling eagerly in front of Prince Fu's Mansion.
The leader, with tears in his eyes, held a large roll of cloth high above his head and shouted:
"I am waiting for the people of Luoyang to gather hundreds of thousands of fingerprints and signatures to implore His Highness to comply with the people's wishes and ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor——"