Although the Nanjing regime had been secretly contacting various factions all along, not everyone kept their secrets. Officials in various regions quickly sensed that something was amiss.
Some officials wrote to the Imperial Court and Emperor Chongzhen to report the situation, while others feigned ignorance and maintained silence. The princes of the blood were no exception. Prince Yongming, Zhu Youlang, and Prince Tang, Zhu Yujian, immediately wrote to Emperor Chongzhen and dispatched trusted subordinates to the Capital. As for the other princes of the blood, dissatisfied with Emperor Chongzhen for defaulting on their imperial stipends, some supported the Crown Prince in coming to the rescue of the monarch, while others declared they would stay out of the matter.
News of the situation in Jiangnan soon reached the Capital. Senior Grand Secretary Xie Sanbin was skeptical. He simply did not believe the Crown Prince would raise an army to rescue the monarch.
Chapter 1236