Li Zicheng took Beijing by storm
In 1640, peasant army led by Li Zicheng which was main force of peasant insurrectionary armies of late Ming Dynasty fought to Henan. For mobilizing and organizing masses to overthrow Ming Dynasty, this peasant army was agog for resolving the heavy taxes and corvee problem and disaster relief. For this reason, Li Zicheng put forward slogans of "averaging out land and exempting grain tax", "no levy in 5 years" and "buy low and sell low". At the same time, carring out policy of "to rob the rich and help the poor". These measures saved many people, there came out many ballads to praise Li Zicheng.
Li Zicheng´s peasant army quickly expanded because people supported them and fight to Xi´an soon. In January of 1644, Li Zicheng officially established peasant regime, called Dashun, titled Yongchang. Li Zicheng accepted brainman Gu Shijun´s proposal: take Guanzhong first, treat it as base to attack and seize Shanxi, then, assault Beijing, and send competent soldiers in disguise to collect military information in Beijing.
In January of 1644, Li Zicheng´s peasant army set off from Xi´an, went east and passed the Yellow River, captured Taiyuan in February. Then, the army was branched out into two parts, the south part commanded by Liu Zongmin passed through Guguan, Zhending and Baoding to get Beijing, the north one commanded by Li Zicheng passed through Datong and Xuanfu to get Beijing. The peasnt army maintained strict military discipline, pushed forward with an overwhelming momentum.
On March 16, the two parts of army met under Beijing, surrounded Beijing City, cut off the contact between Ming Dynasty and outside, make beijing became a isolated city.
When peasant army was under city, Emperor Chongzhen appointed eunuch Wang Chengen as prefect to in charge of city defense, and most city defence officials were eunuchs. These enunchs were ignorant of fighting, just to use solid city wall to resist Li Zicheng´s army.
Peasant army sweeped away interurbano Ming army, the was ready to sieged the city. The city wall of Beijing was tall and solid, peasant army prepared hundreds of 50 feet-high scaling ladders, bows, crossbows and blunderbusses aimed the top of the city wall. Waited for the order was given, thounsands of guns roared at the same time, and battle cries reached to the sky. Faced the fierce offensive, the defence Ming army was tremble with fear. On the second day, the commanding general eunuch Cao Huachun in charge of the defence Zhangyi Gate (Guangan Gate now) opened the city gate and welcome Li Zicheng to enter city.
On the night, the roar of guns and cannons never-failing at every gate, Emperor Chongzhen was agonizing and unable to sit down, he ran out of palace, climbed up Coal Hill (Jing Shan at present), found war flame was all around city. He felt doomsday was coming and back to Qianqing Palace, he said to the Empress with tears that there was not any hope, ordered the Empress and imperial concubines to commit suicide, and killed the Princess and imperial concubines by himeself.
The fighting was continue, utill the day break of 19th, peasant army has captured inner-city. Emperor Chongzhen ordered eunuch rang bell to convened all officials to hold court, but for a long time, not see anyone. Emperor Chongzhen was completely in despair,committed suicide by hanging himself on Coal Hill, just behind the Forbidden City. Eunuch Wang Chengen also hanging himeself by Emperor Chongzhen.
Li Zicheng enforced strict military discipline, punished officials guilty of crimes and corruption, and paid much attention to the people´s welfare. The regime controlled a vast area from south of the Great Wall to north of the Huaihe River.