In the intercalary sixth month of the first year of Hongguang, Nanjing has fallen, the Hongguang Emperor has been captured, and the Prince of Lu has opened the city gates and surrendered to the Qing.
In Shaoxing, eastern Zhejiang, Zhang Guowei, former Minister of War under the Ming, dresses in mourning and welcomes Zhu Yihai, Prince of Lu of Taizhou, to serve as regent.
At this point, Zhu Yihai controls only four prefectures: Shaoxing, Ningbo, Taizhou, and Wenzhou. He has two unruly armies, those of Fang Guoan and Wang Zhiren, an empty regent’s seal, and the Qiantang River barring his way.
The Four Garrisons north of the Yangtze have surrendered, as has the son of Zuo Liangyu. Shi Kefa has shed his blood in Yangzhou, and the banner of Dorgon’s Prince Yu, commander of the Qing army, is advancing along the Grand Canal toward eastern Zhejiang.
Meanwhile, Zhu Yujian, the Prince of Tang in Fujian, has also declared himself regent and adopted the reign title Longwu. Should they support a close relative or the worthiest candidate? The infighting over legitimacy between the Zhejiang and Fujian courts begins even before the Qing army arrives.
Zhu Yihai stands on the banks of the Qiantang River, with a group of unruly soldiers waiting for their pay, a group of civil officials fighting for power, and a group of gentry still waiting to see which way the wind blows behind him.
He has only one thought: In this life, I will not be the first to run.
“The ministers head south, while the ruler alone looks north.” Zhu Yihai, Prince of Lu, gazes north. Thus begins the first year of his regency.
Good-looking, good-looking, good-looking, good-looking