June 14, 14th year of Chongzhen, Beijing.

When he was young, Zhou Yanru, who had successively created a Huiyuan and a champion, and only narrowly equaled Shang Ke's record of the highest literati realm of Lianzhong Sanyuan, walked quickly on the road from Wumen to Qianqing Palace. Although he is nearly half a hundred years old, he still has the demeanor and temperament of a talented man in the south of the Yangtze River. On the basis of the poetry and calligraphy in the belly, a little maturity has been added after the ups and downs of the Huan Sea, and it looks more and more dignified and graceful.

In June of the sixth year of Chongzhen, Zhou Yanru was forced to resign due to illness, and at this time he entered the cabinet again, and he was in a high position as the first assistant.

Although Chen Xinjia, who is in charge of the military department, has won the trust and trust of the emperor, his qualifications and reputation are insufficient.

Zhou Yanru returned to power, but it was the result of a compromise after the game of various forces, with the trust of the emperor and the support of various political forces such as Donglin and the Eunuch Party. In particular, Donglin's stamina, represented by Zhang Pu, pinned his hopes on Zhou Yanru and advised: "If the public is represented, it will be easy to get the same way, and you can regain your virtuous reputation." ”

Because of the support of the monarchs, Zhou Yanru also paid attention to meeting the needs of all parties, and was already operating, recalling Donglin Party members Zheng Sanjun, Liu Zongzhou, Fan Jingwen, Ni Yuanlu, Li Banghua, etc. to the court.

At the same time, because the eunuchs never raised their heads when Wen Tiren was in power, they pinned their hopes on Zhou Yanru when he came back. With a lot of strength, Zhou Yanru lived up to expectations, and at the same time operated with Ma Shiying as the governor of Fengyang, and was known as a virtuous man at home and abroad for a while.

Courtesan Zhou Yanru rejuvenated his skillful hands, quickly eased the internal turmoil of the various factions of the Ming Dynasty, and made Emperor Chongzhen Longyan happy, and the emperor placed great hopes on him, and even derogated the respect of the emperor and worshiped Zhou Yanru, saying: I listen to Mr. Thinking of this, I took Zhou Yanru's city government. I also feel a little fluttery.

Zhou Yanru did not serve as the first assistant for a long time. It has been praised by the four seas, the spring breeze is proud, and there is continuous good news, and the treasury can barely support it. In the fourteenth year of Chongzhen, the emperor has proposed several times in a row to sue the Taimiao.

At this time, he walked forward in a regular manner, under the leadership of the little eunuch. But the mind is racing. The emperor urgently summoned his ministers, what happened?

Like Wen Tiren, Zhou Yanru is also a must-have for a qualified cabinet minister. That is to be good at figuring out and catering to the emperor's intentions. In the blink of an eye, he had roughly guessed the purpose of the emperor's summons.

The things discussed are nothing more than the war in Jinzhou and the suppression of thieves in Henan, Sichuan and other places!

Today's Henan thieves are more ferocious than in previous years.

Not only are the soldiers sharp, the soldiers are strong, and the most terrifying thing is that. They also have a large number of popular bases, and this year Henan is thousands of miles away, but the imperial court is going to send more people in various provinces in Henan, and the resentment of the people in Henan, which was originally under the pressure of many princes and clans, is boiling. The whole of Henan is like a volcano that has entered the eruption, although the magma has not burst out from the ground for the time being, but the smoke and fire have already filled the place, and when it erupts, it is bound to destroy a qiē.

And now in Henan, Li Zicheng's thieves "not only have strict false orders, but also can carry out false benevolence and false righteousness to help the victims and fool the people, break through the city and distribute the money and food to the victims with the plundered, and then coerce the good people to expand the army, and the momentum will be great, and over time, it will become a big disaster, and it needs to be suppressed urgently!" ”

After breaking through Xiangyang, killing King Xiang, and forcing Yang Sichang, who was known as General Yanmei and even his own soldiers to be called the general's battalion, committed suicide, Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai gradually changed from close cooperation to parting ways, "Chuang and Cao seem to have a tendency to converge!" ”

This is the description of the thieves in the letter written to him by Li Xianfeng, the governor of Henan, who is not afraid of being burned by the thieves, but is afraid that the thieves will not be burned and killed, which is the unanimous view of the government and the opposition. Now that the thieves are attacking Kaifeng for the second time, the purpose of Li Xianfeng's letter is nothing more than asking for help.

Rationally told Zhou Yanru that if the emperor wants to discuss the matter of thieves today, the matter of Henan will be very bad! He should give up Li Xianfeng immediately and get rid of it. Anyway, when he first became the first assistant, he wanted to investigate the responsibility for the loss of the territory, and at most it was a reprimand, which was extremely slight.

It's just that...... Ren Shoufu came, and Li Xianfeng also vigorously welcomed him, especially because he was also a member of the Donglin Party.

If Li Xianfeng is given up here, a large number of officials attached to him by the party will inevitably feel sad and sad, which will be greatly detrimental to their own fame and reputation.

One will be successful, and ten thousand bones will wither. Regardless of him! As long as his position as the first assistant is firmly established, Li Xianfeng will be demoted and dismissed, and he will have the opportunity to reinstate him in the future.

However, in a few steps, he had already drawn up several sets of plans in his mind on how to deal with different situations, and it was up to the emperor to deal with them.

Under the guidance of the little eunuch, Zhou Yanru came to the gate of the Qianqing Palace, he subconsciously stopped, carefully cleaned up his clothes, and entered with pride.

In the warm pavilion, the cabinet ministers have already bowed their heads in front of Chongzhen, Chen Xinjia, the secretary of the military department, Li Rixuan, the secretary of the ministry, Li Zhiwen, the secretary of the household department, and others, as well as the cabinet ministers Wei Zaode, Chen Yan, etc.

Chen Xinjia should have had a quarrel with Li Zhiwen, and the anger between the two was still there, and Chongzhen also looked at everyone with a gloomy face.

Today, we really discussed the matter of Jinzhou.

Just before Lord Zhou came in, Li Zhiwen, the secretary of the household department, had already quarreled with Chen Xinjia, the secretary of the military department.

The reason is that the daily consumption of food and grass in front is huge, although most of the grain and grass at this time are allocated by the emperor's inner treasury, but it is also the silver of the imperial court! Why is it that the household department is not even qualified to ask the inner court for an account? (Actually, I just want to discuss with the eunuchs, we have no opinion on how many of you eat meat, how much oil soup can you drink?) It's not easy for everyone these days! ）

Seeing that Zhou Yanru was coming, Chongzhen had to order the eunuch to give him a seat, and after everyone sat down, when it came to the Jinzhou War, everyone had a headache, when the strength of the two sides was similar, there was no other magic formula except for face-to-face hard fighting. Everyone talks about clichés.

Hubu Shangshu Li waited to ask and began to complain again: "There are many soldiers and salaries, and it is difficult to support grain and grass, the emperor, Weichen is still the same sentence, the matter of Jinzhou should be resolved quickly." The minister asked the emperor to decree that Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, and others should fight a decisive battle with the slaves and thieves! ”

Chen Xinjia immediately objected: "Absolutely not! ”

He said eagerly: "Your Majesty, the soldiers are in danger. An accident. It is the result of the loss of the elite. This official has made it clear just now that it is even more difficult for our grain and grass to support thieves and slaves, as long as we hold on to each other, we will definitely be able to win without a fight. And why take the risk? ”

Li Zhiwen angrily shouted at Chen Xinjia: "This soldier said lightly. Just hold on. Dare to ask, where does the grain and grass come from? ”

Chen Xinjia yelled at him even louder: "Lord Li, if the army is damaged. Who is responsible? You? ”

"Now that the former enemy army is gathered, and the daily consumption of money and food is huge, so how can the world consume national strength?"

"If you don't exterminate the Liaodong rebels, how can you stabilize the world?"

"Now the household department is already a farmer, and he is no longer able to raise such a huge amount of money and food! Now, in addition to sending more money and grain to levy land in advance, only the emperor temporarily allocates two pieces of silver from the inner treasury for emergency relief! After the slaves and thieves have been pacified, they will return to the mat! ”

Listening to the courtiers arguing, Emperor Chongzhen stroked his forehead, and a sneer burst in his heart. I see! I'm thinking about my little money!

In the past few years, Chongzhen and Li Shouhan have exchanged letters and books, and gradually realized the importance of money and food for a leader, and became more and more reluctant to hand over the money and food in their hands to these civil officials. This is why Chongzhen would rather go back on his word and send eunuchs to the front line to supervise the distribution of military rations, rather than hand over the money and grain to those household officials.

Now his inner treasury still has 600,000 yuan of customs duties from the port of Guangzhou sent by Li Huamei this time, and Shouhan explained to him in the secret recital that a total of 800,000 yuan of customs duties have been collected, and 600,000 yuan of customs duties will be paid after deducting the cost of various expenses. Along with the silver, in addition to the details of the tariff revenue accounts in Guangzhou, there was also a proposal and income analysis for the opening of customs offices in various parts of Nanzhili to collect customs duties.

"The emperor's inner treasury and silver are both in our hands, and a few days ago the Dragon Boat Festival spent some, and added some utensils and clothes to the concubines and queen Yi'an in the palace to repair the palace houses. There are about 500,000 yuan left, and in addition to leaving some necessary expenses, the amount that can be used for Liaodong is also a drop in the bucket. ”

Wang Dehua, who was standing on the side, felt a little distressed about the silver, and was reluctant to get the silver he got from going south several times and was defeated by this group of guys.

"Your Majesty! Princess! Don't miss the military affairs for the sake of a little money and other things outside your body! The matter of the blessed king is not far away! ”

There was an obvious hint of naked threat in Li's words. Chongzhen was a little annoyed!

In order to kill the two princes in less than a month, he has repeatedly gone to the Taimiao and Fengxian Hall to beg for the forgiveness of the ancestors, if it were not for the two good news in Myanmar and Bangladesh and the appearance of the white tiger auspicious, I am afraid that the draft edict of the guilty will be sued to the world. Now this group of birdmen is still threatening me with the matter of the blessed king!

He was irritable in his heart, and was about to ask the opinion of Zhou Yanru, the first assistant of the cabinet, when Wang Chengen, who was standing opposite Wang Dehua, suddenly said: "The emperor forgives the slaves and maids for courage, old gentlemen, in our humble opinion, the money and food needed by my Wang Shi to fight against the slaves and thieves are actually very easy to raise, and the emperor does not have to worry about this matter, but he just needs to collect some taxes!" ”

This was a bit of a surprise to the cabinet members, but immediately there was a burst of joy in my heart, as long as you open your mouth to the emperor to build a new salary, or even ask for a new salary, we will definitely agree with it.

"Emperor, didn't Uncle Li say in the appendix in the inscription when he sent the county lord's mother to send money and grain a few days ago, if tariffs can be levied at various ports in Nanzhili, the annual income can be dozens of times that of Guangzhou. If the emperor and the old gentlemen agree to levy tariffs on various parts of Nanzhili, the slaves and maids are willing to go to Uncle Li's mansion again, make a bet on him with these tariffs, and ask for millions of yuan in military salaries! ”

No! This must not be done! Li was about to cry when he asked him.

This eunuch's trick is too vicious! Tariffs are levied everywhere in Jiangnan to make military salaries, and if this news is passed through the holy decree to the world, a sturdy black cauldron will be carried on his head, and how Jiangnan Shilin will deal with himself at that time, he has imagined no less than dozens.

The atmosphere in the warm pavilion became quite awkward for a while, and the topic could not be continued.

Originally, it was planned to run the emperor. He got some of the silver in his inner treasury and sent it to the Liaodong front, but he didn't want to be turned into a thirty-two-pound cannonball by the eunuch and thrown at Li Beiwen's feet, making his face covered with sweat, and he didn't know how to deal with it.

At this moment, a little eunuch stumbled and shouted loudly: "Great victory, great victory, great victory on the front line of Jinzhou, Wang Shi killed more than 30,000 slaves and thieves, beheaded 3,000 slaves and thieves, and beheaded the slave chieftain and pseudo-prince Haoge......"

"What's the noise?!"

The eunuch on duty outside the door was taken aback. Shouting and scolding.

"Father-in-law! Jiliao Governor Hong's good news from the Jinzhou front. Six hundred miles expedited! ”

The good news of the Liaodong front line is the wonderful pen of Hong Chengchou and Inspector Hong, which describes a former enemy war.

The biggest effect is to alleviate the embarrassing position of the cabinet.

The arrival of the good news made Chongzhen a little ecstatic, and Long Yan was happy. Everyone in the cabinet couldn't help but breathe a long sigh of relief.

Chongzhen immediately made an order. Treat the three armies. Let the Ministry of Rites get ready. He was ready to sue the temple immediately. The well-informed official immediately presented a congratulatory watch.

Since Zhou Yanru, the first assistant of the cabinet, a cabinet member, a Beijing official. All over Gyeonggi, as well as local governments, offered watches one after another, and flew to Gyeongshi like raindrops.

The good news on the front line in Jinzhou also made the good students in Beijing lively, and in a few days, I don't know how many teahouses and restaurants had a booming business. Various storytellers urgently conceived overnight and evolved more than 100 storytelling versions, such as the Three Kingdoms version, the Water Margin version, the Founding Heroes version of this dynasty, and even the gods and demons fantasy of the Journey to the West series and the Fengshen Bang series.

Tens of thousands of slaves and thieves were killed in one fell swoop, and more was won with less, but the two generals of Wu came out of the battle and broke the four banners of slaves and thieves! The main force of the army has not yet been dispatched, so it is extremely easy to relieve the siege of Jinzhou, don't say that the siege of Jinzhou is solved, that is, the recovery of Liaodong in one fell swoop is just around the corner!

Under the great situation, everyone regained confidence in the battle situation in Liaodong, and some people in the Hanlin Academy, Guozijian and other places knew that there were already people who had issued a cry to recover Liaodong and smash Huanglong.

After the excitement, Chongzhen and many bigwigs in the cabinet fell into the original predicament again.

Will you continue to fight steadily and steadily, or will you immediately take Jinzhou and fight with the thieves under the city of Jinzhou?

The same quarrel over the choice of strategy and tactics was not only in the cabinet, but also among the officials and subordinates in various places, and the people of the Hanlin Yuan and the Guozijian were divided into different factions over whether to attack Huanglong directly or steadily.

In the teahouse restaurant, diners often argued about whether Inspector Hong should break the thieves in Jinzhou or sweep the caves in Shenyang, and finally fought a lot.

Then, almost all eyes were on Matsuyama Fort, which was thousands of miles away.

As everyone knows, Inspector Hong is also a headache here, and the generals quarrel endlessly every day about how to enter the army and how to break the thief.

In the past few days, there have been many battles with Kong Youde, Zu Runze, Buyandai and other Eight Banners of Mongolia and Eight Banners of the Han Army, and the soldiers of each town have also won a lot, although it is not as big as the two Wu generals on that day, but it is also at least more than 100 beheaded in each battle.

What's more, several points on the road to Jinzhou City were also captured by the Ming army after not particularly fierce and brutal battles. This is the best situation since the reinforcement of Jinzhou several times!

The Ming army and the reinforcements in the city can no longer use artillery fire to attack the Jiannu troops in the south of the city, and the two sides can even see each other's flags clearly.

Seeing that the achievements were in front of them, the generals of the towns also began to think carefully.

How to march into the army and how to fight were divided into two factions.

One faction seems to be alone, but the words spoken are quite powerful in the army, this is the slow-moving and rapid battle faction headed by Wu Sangui and Wu Biao, advocating that they should not rush to advance to the city of Jinzhou first, and still adopt the strategy of the previous commander, and fight steadily and steadily step by step. At the same time, waiting for Ning Yuanbo's reinforcements to arrive, at that time, with Ning Yuanbo's sailor as the lead, the surprise soldiers went straight to the nest of Jiannu, and the Hongdu division waved the army to attack fiercely, and the two sides attacked in one fell swoop to level the Jiannu in the western Liaoxi corridor, and established an immortal achievement for the Ming court!

Because of a great victory, the two Wu generals have won a lot of money, made great contributions, and even reached the heavens, and the combat effectiveness of the army under them is even more eye-catching, so when they say this, although the two do not account for the majority of the many general adjutant generals, this opinion has to be taken seriously.

However, these words immediately aroused strong opposition from the rest of the general soldiers.

At this time, there is no such thing as the faction of the Guan Ning Army and the Miyun Army, everyone will unite for the time being to deal with these two newly prominent Wu family boys, if they don't beat their limelight, this Liaodong will be the world of the two of them in the future!

As a result, the commanders and lieutenants of the towns didn't care that these two were people who had just made great contributions, and all kinds of hot and sour words came one after another.

"I see that you don't want to make things off, but want to take the credit alone, let us contain the main force of the slaves and thieves, and you enjoy the glory of conquering Liaoshen!"

"At the beginning, Li Dashuai was made an earl because he broke the thieves twice and recovered Jinan, did the two generals Wu also want to be made an earl?"

"What is the Earl? People want to be crowned kings! ”

This is the words of some people who attack Wu Sangui and Wu Biao without distinction between each other. There are also those who adopt a divide-and-conquer strategy, intending to drive a wedge between the two Wu generals.

"General Wu was such a young hero back then, he became famous all over the world at the age of thirteen! But I haven't broken Jiannu head-on, I don't want General Wu Biao to defeat Jiannu today with a group of pawns who are unstable on horseback, sure enough, it was the back waves of the Yangtze River that pushed the front waves, and the front waves died on the beach! ”

The person who squeezed Wu Sangui and said that he was fame and wanted to be knighted and crowned the king never thought that this sentence turned out to be a prophecy, but after three or four years of hard work, Wu Sangui earned himself a crown, and it only took a few months from uncle to prince!

For these people to fight and win over, divide and disintegrate, Wu Sangui doesn't think so, this year, everyone has to rely on strength to speak! In the past few days, he has been soaking in the training ground almost every day, in addition to practicing thousands of new soldiers, he is to invite Wu Biao to drink wine and eat meat, and he wants to know how his cavalry divisions have trained them.

Unexpectedly, to put it bluntly, it's worthless, but it's just the word discipline! But these two words made Wu Sangui difficult.

He had planned to train all his wolf cavalry into such strong cavalry, but he had to change his mind and let those newcomers practice such tactics.

He decided, no matter what others said, at least he would stop with Wu Biao during the Songjin War.

Facing the quarrel of the generals, the superintendent Hong Chengchou was also fluctuating.

In all fairness, he also knew that the trick of attacking Shenyang, Liaoyang and other places in the empty city at this time was extremely vicious.

However, this trick is not feasible! (To be continued......)

PS: Ask for a monthly pass.