Chongzhen was shocked. His own city of Beijing had a population of over one million! Now there were only 800,000 left? Why hadn't Shuntian Prefecture reported this to him?
Seeing Chongzhen's sullen expression, Zhao Xiaofei thought, "Oh no! This time the Shuntian Prefecture governor is in trouble! Let's observe a minute of silence for him!"
Chongzhen was about to send Zhao Xiaofei back when someone brought him urgent news. The Yangtze River had flooded, leaving victims everywhere. Countless farmland was submerged, and tens of thousands of houses had collapsed. Countless people were displaced, some even selling their children.
Upon seeing this memorial, Chongzhen burst into tears. He almost collapsed, and Zhao Xiaofei quickly stood up to support him. Then he shouted, "Where's Wang Chengen? Call him over! Send for the imperial physician!"
"I'm fine!" Chongzhen was helped to sit down. He closed his eyes and sighed.
"Your Majesty! What happened? Can you tell me?" Zhao Xiaofei asked.
"Look for yourself!" Chongzhen said, pointing at the memorial.
Zhao Xiaofei picked it up and looked at it, thinking: "What a great opportunity! I can secretly expand my army! The more refugees, the more troops! But I don't know what will happen to my manor? Will it be flooded?"
Li Zicheng now occupies a large part of the northern lands. The cuckolded emperor, Li Zicheng, is busy cultivating military farms. The Ming dynasty is still exploiting the people and unable to effectively organize farmers to resume production. Meanwhile, Li Zicheng, the cuckolded emperor, has already started the imperial examinations, abolished the eight-legged essay, and established a new government and a new court with the help of a group of scholars who were frustrated in the Ming dynasty. The Ming dynasty's officialdom is still playing the game of power. These officials are making money, taking concubines, and quarreling with each other. The court pays less to the soldiers than Li Zicheng, and the soldiers are not as well fed as the soldiers of the rebel army. Who is still willing to fight loyally for the Ming dynasty?
Militia isn't unique to the Qing Dynasty; it existed during the Ming Dynasty. Unfortunately, the current militia is better than nothing! Of course, except for Zhao Xiaofei's militia. Now, due to Li Zicheng's actions, the escorts from various counties have retreated to the vicinity of the capital.
There were now nearly 1,000 escorts in the capital alone. Zhao Xiaofei had stationed them in Tongzhou and Tianjin. Their families were simply sent directly to Nanjing. Some escorts even managed to escape, but were eventually killed by the Imperial Guards.
Zhao Xiaofei left the Forbidden City and returned to the Prince Consort's Mansion. He first sent a telegram to his elder brother that night. Although the entire capital was still in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, Zhao Xiaofei felt that the situation was becoming increasingly urgent.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
