In the third month of the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, the capital fell, and Chongzhen hanged himself at Coal Hill.
Crown Prince Zhu Cilang was captured and became Li Zicheng's prisoner.
In the fourth month, Li Zicheng personally led an expedition to Shanhaiguan, taking him along on an ox cart as a bargaining chip to persuade Wu Sangui to surrender.
Everyone thought the sixteen-year-old prince of a fallen dynasty was scared out of his wits.
But no one knew that the soul in his body belonged to someone from four hundred years in the future.
Even fewer knew that every day at midnight, a “ding” rang in his mind, and a ten-tael ingot of pure gold appeared right on time.
He used gold nuggets to bribe the veteran escorting him and gold dust to win the hearts of those who were sure to die. This became the foundation that helped him later train an iron-blooded army.
Beneath Shanhaiguan, he watched Wu Sangui's wavering with cold eyes;
In the midst of the chaos, he led a dozen surviving soldiers to escape alive;
Heading south to Jinling, he played along with the Southern Ming ministers, wielding the authority of the only legitimate heir to rally the realm against the Qing.
“I am Chongzhen's son, the rightful heir of the Ming Dynasty.”
“The Jianzhou forces have breached the pass, and rebels are ravaging the land. I will save this realm!”
One ingot of gold every day: I will save the Ming Dynasty from collapse!
