A few years ago, Dolgon's ten Niu Lu were wiped out in Shandong, and it is said that Li Laiheng did it. A month ago, under Juyong's pass, five more Niu Lu were killed again, and Li Laiheng did it. More than ten days ago, he personally saw Li Laiheng's super combat effectiveness in the Jiang Nu Temple.

He was really scared later, he thought that he met Li Laiheng in Shanhaiguan that day, he really didn't dare to say that he could defeat them, one Liu Zongmin and one Li Guo lost his five staff leaders and thirteen assistant leaders, a rare loss. If Li Laiheng had been added that day, maybe they wouldn't have been able to shake Li Zicheng's troops, and now they are a little scared when they think about it.

Now the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang also saw Li Laiheng, thanks to Li Laiheng for not harming them inexplicably, otherwise the Manchu Qing would have a fourth emperor. The most unexpected thing for Dolgon was that Li Laiheng went deep into Shengjing alone and made a mess of the Manchu capital.

This man is a ghost. Dolgon said to Hong Chengchou: "Is Li Laiheng a human or a ghost?"

Of course, Hong Chengchou remembered Li Laiheng, and he also had an alliance under his sword. That history, he won't tell anyone else. Later, he also heard a lot of rumors about Li Laiheng.

"Has he ever been defeated?" asked Dolgon.

"Nope. ”

"I heard that every time he goes to battle, he will kill the general?"

"I haven't heard of it, but I've seen it with my own eyes. ”

"Chongzhen sent the most powerful killer in Dongchang, and he was also planted under him?"

"Not only the emperor, but also the archers sent by the ministers all died under his hands. ”

Dolgon didn't ask anymore, and it was a conclusion that Dashun had a genius general, who could be called the god of war.

"I heard that Zhang Xianzhong also has a famous general under him, who is known as the god of war by the Southern Dynasty, isn't this person's name Zhang Kewang?" Dolgon asked after being silent for a while.

"There is a Zhang Kewang. However, as far as the minister knows, the most powerful person under Zhang Xianzhong is not Zhang Kewang, but his other adopted son, named Zhang Wenxiu. The minister knew about it from someone who had recently escaped from Dongchang. Hong Chengchou replied.

Dolgon's face was a little solemn, and he thought that he would have to meet many more powerful opponents in the future. But he soon remembered that Li Zicheng was infighting, and his emotions rose again.

"Li Zicheng's infighting is a good opportunity for us to attack. ”

Li Zicheng's infighting was indeed a good opportunity for Dolgon to attack. Li Yan has been imprisoned, and he has angered Long Yan.

At this time, Li Laiheng returned to Beijing from Juyong Pass, he didn't care about resting, and came to Wuying Hall to ask to see Li Zicheng. At this time, it was already midnight, and Li Zicheng was also resting.

These days, there is no unity of opinion within the country, coupled with the tightness of the eastern front, and the preparation for the enthronement ceremony, Li Zicheng is very busy, and it is rare for him to linger with Dou Meiyi tonight.

Dou Meiyi and Li Zicheng are in the honeymoon period, a super beauty in the palace, a natural stunner, caressed by a hot-blooded hero, and her enthusiasm is like fire. Tonight she's going to burst out with all the energy she's been gathering for days.

From the time the emperor went to bed an hour ago to the present, the two of them have been lingering, and they have been turning clouds and rain, Li Zicheng is panting like a cow, and Dou Meiyi is panting. Suddenly, there was a knock on the cloud board. This is a signal that there is an urgent military service.

Li Zicheng was startled and immediately stopped moving. He leaned on Dou Meiyi's belly and asked, "What's the matter?"

"General Li Laiheng asks to see you!" replied the soldier.

As soon as Li Zicheng heard Li Laiheng's request to see him, he turned over and got out of bed, and almost ran out of the room without pants, thanks to Dou Meiyi's reminder, he hurriedly put on his clothes and pants and went out to meet Li Laiheng.

As soon as Li Laiheng saw Li Zicheng, he saluted and immediately asked, "What is Li Yan's crime?"

Li Zicheng said: "Li Yan is disrespectful, I'll talk about his affairs later, let's talk about your situation first." ”

Li Laiheng said: "The minister came to see the emperor in the middle of the night, not to tell you the story of me in the Northeast, but to know why Li Yan was imprisoned?"

Li Zicheng became displeased, and thought to himself: "How can a young man talk like this? If I didn't want to know about your situation in the Northeast, for a Li Yan, I would have hurriedly got off Dou Meiyi's body and listened to you question me about Li Yan? Besides, whether Li Yan is convicted or not, isn't it something you Li Laiheng can ask?"

But since Li Laiheng asked, Li Zicheng still briefly said the process. In the last three court meetings, Li Yan has been more disrespectful to Li Zicheng every time. He opposed the suggestion of the majority of people to abandon Beijing, saying that it was a big mistake to rush to attack Beijing in the east last time, and now that Beijing has been captured, especially since the Qing troops have entered the pass, even if it is to resist the Qing troops, Beijing cannot give up. His words offended all the military generals who advocated attacking Beijing.

The second court meeting was Li Zicheng's accession to the throne, and everyone actively supported Li Zicheng's accession to the throne as emperor as soon as possible, but he Li Yan said that the top priority now was not to ascend the throne but to organize Beijing's defense. This time, Li Zicheng had to doubt Li Yan's intentions. Li Zicheng remembered that Li Yan had made a big effort to win the hearts of the people in Beijing during Li Zicheng's eastern expedition to Shanhaiguan, and he opened a number of granaries to relieve the people, and promised the officials of the Ming Dynasty that they would no longer pursue their past atrocities, and also promised that in the future, the so-called stolen silver would not be recovered, and the soldiers would not be allowed to break into civilian houses.

In a short period of time, Li Laiheng listened to Li Zicheng's words and thought for a moment. He knew that he had to deal with this matter wisely, and it was not easy to save Li Yan. The reason why Li Zicheng insisted on killing him was very simple, that is, because he suspected that Li Yan had opposing intentions, just because he was also surnamed Li, and the Eighteen Sons Lord Artifact did not say Li Zicheng, but only said that the surname was Li. So he wants to kill Li Yan, Li Yan's surname is Li, and my Li Laiheng is also surnamed Li.

Seeing that Li Laiheng was silent, Li Zicheng thought that he also supported his point of view, and asked, "You say, should Li Yan be killed?"

Li Laiheng suddenly pretended to be taken aback and asked, "You said you were going to kill Li Yan?" Your Majesty, there is an important intelligence minister who is about to say to the Emperor, do you know what Dolgon is most worried about?"

"What are you worried about?" Li Zicheng asked anxiously.

Li Laiheng said: "Dolgon is most worried that the emperor will use two people to guard Beijing, one is Li Yan and the other is Li Laiheng. He said that as long as either of the two men guarded Beijing, his hopes for Dolgon would be dashed. The emperor, as far as his ministers knew, was another heroic figure of the Manchus after Nurhachi, and his ambition was to invade and occupy all of China. At that time, his ancestors accounted for half of China. This person has lofty ambitions and superior wisdom, and he is looking forward to you killing Li Yan every day these days, so I am in a hurry to come back tonight to ask to see the emperor, just for this matter. ”

Li Zicheng pondered. Is Li Laiheng's words true or false? Dolgon, Li Zicheng now understands something, and he is really a dragon among people, a powerful person. Why does he value Li Yan? It is necessary to value Li Laiheng, he has already given Dolgon a headache, but why does he value Li Yan so much?

Li Zicheng asked, "Dolgon also knows about Li Yan?"

"Your Majesty, the spies of the Qing soldiers are everywhere, and they naturally know what kind of person Li Yan is. Your Majesty, with all due respect, Li Yan is right when he said that Beijing must be defended. Now that the Manchu Qing Dynasty has entered the customs, who do the Chinese people expect to resist the Qing Dynasty? If the emperor also abandons Beijing and ignores it, where will the people's hearts belong? What hope will they place on?" Li Laiheng's words shocked Li Zicheng.

Since I, Li Zicheng, uphold the will of heaven and inherit the Son of Heaven, then I should make the decision for the common people, if Beijing cannot be saved, how can we defend our people?"

"Beijing must defend!"

"Who stays in Beijing?"

"The minister is willing to stay in Beijing. However, staying in Beijing asked the emperor to meet the two conditions of the minister, and I don't know if the emperor can agree. Li Laiheng said.

Say. ”

"The emperor gave me two people, Hao Shaoqi and Li Yan. Give me the right to go on a northern expedition at the right time. Li Laiheng said.

"You still want to go on a northern expedition?" Li Zicheng asked in surprise.

The determination to defend Beijing has been made, and Li Zicheng once again convened the Imperial Council. Li Yan, who was sent to prison, was also released to attend the meeting. Because Li Zicheng was ready to let Li Laiheng guard Beijing, he had to agree to some requests.

Although Liu Zongmin and Niu Jinxing were unimpressed with letting Li Yan out, and were even a little angry, Li Zicheng had already decided, and he asked Li Yan to be Li Laiheng's deputy, so they didn't have much to say.

Before the meeting, Li Zicheng and Li Laiheng had full communication with Song Xiance, so the meeting was relatively smooth.

The meeting decided that Li Zicheng would choose a day to ascend the throne and announce to the world that he was the new master of China and the Son of Heaven who was appointed by Heaven to uphold the will of Heaven. The capital was built in Chang'an, the country name Dashun, the first year of Yongchang. Li Zicheng succeeded in his eastern crusade and returned to Chang'an to sort out the government. The troops led by the Zhendong general Li Laiheng were stationed in Beijing, and the Northern Expedition was chosen to eliminate the Manchu regime. The strategic direction for the future has basically been decided.

Li Laiheng was ordered to defend Beijing, and in fact became a frontal force against the Manchus. The troops led by Li Laiheng were based on his legion, as well as Hao Shaoqi's 30,000 cavalry, plus Li Yan's more than 10,000 troops. In this way, Li Laiheng's army almost had an army of 50,000.

50,000 people seems to be a lot, but once troops are deployed in various places, the number of people is pitifully small, just like Li Zicheng's attack on Shanhaiguan, no matter how he concentrates superior forces, he can only use 60,000 people, and he cannot have an advantage in numbers. Now Li Laiheng has 50,000 people, and he can only deploy 20,000 garrisons in the city, and Tongzhou, Miyun, and Changping must deploy troops. Therefore, after Li Zicheng and them returned to Shaanxi, Li Laiheng was still a lone army.

Li Zicheng's ascension to the throne was hurried, and then Li Zicheng prepared to retreat. The army is afraid of hearing one word, and as soon as it hears withdraw, it is equivalent to hearing another word and fleeing.