As for Huguang...

Zhu Cihong frowned.

Du Yinxi is now the governor of Huguang, and his command is mainly the loyal battalion that has not been organized for a long time, as well as Ma Jinzhong, Jin Shenghuan and other former Zuo Liangyu departments.

In terms of overall strength, Huguang is the most sufficient.

But the first thing that came to Zhu Cihong's Northern Expedition was not Huguang.

It's not that he doesn't trust Du Yinxi, but that Huguang is too important, and it can be said that it affects the whole body. Huguang is the granary of the world, and the slightest mistake may affect the entire situation.

But it seems a little inappropriate to put such a strong force without it.

Zhu Cihong thought for a long time and said in a deep voice: "Order Yinxi to raise troops north." ”

Lu Zhenfei's expression perked up.

"Dare to ask Your Majesty which battalion of soldiers and horses it is?"

"Camp Loyalisty."

Zhu Cihong said firmly.

"The Loyalty Battalion is strong, and it's time to show it."

Of course, Zhu Cihong will not send all the troops, Ma Jinzhong, Jin Shenghuan and other troops will be used to stay in Huguang.

"Command!"

Lu Zhenfei said respectfully.

...

...

Blessings are incomparable, and disasters are not singular.

Shortly after the news of the loss of Hanzhong reached Beijing, another piece of bad news reached Dorgon's ears.

Korea declared war on the Qing Dynasty.

The Qing court had long believed that North Korea was a target to be bullied at will, and they did.

There were both pro-Ming and pro-Qing factions in the Korean and Chinese dynasties.

Now it is the pro-Ming faction that has the absolute upper hand, and this is why there is a declaration of war on the Qing Dynasty.

Dolgon couldn't help but wonder if it was a bit too much to send people to Korea to collect grain before? This provoked a fierce resistance from the North Koreans?

But it must be too late to say this, and North Korea will not be able to give in easily since it has declared war.

Unless the Eight Banners Iron Cavalry completely subdues and fears it.

Of course Dorgon would have done this in the past. But now that the Ming Dynasty is on the Northern Expedition, the Qing army needs to deal with a lot of places, where can they divide their troops to attack North Korea.

Dolgon felt as uncomfortable as eating a fly, and the more he thought about it, the more angry he became, and the more annoyed he became, until he vomited out a mouthful of blood and passed out.

The servants in the palace hurriedly called someone to pass on the imperial doctor.

By the time the imperial physician hurried to Prince Rui's mansion with the medicine box, Dolgon's face was already pale.

It took a great deal of work for the Imperial Physician to wake Dolgon up.

But when he woke up, Dolgon's face was tired and weak.

The imperial doctor prescribed a prescription for him, and asked the servants in the house to take the medicine according to the prescription, and then respectfully retreated.

Dolgon called for someone to summon Fan Wencheng, and these minions dared to delay and rush to find it.

...

...

By the time Fan Wencheng arrived at Prince Rui's mansion, it was already half an hour later.

As soon as he entered Dorgon's dormitory, he smelled a strong smell of medicinal soup.

After seeing Dolgon, Fan Wencheng knelt down and saluted.

Dolgon raised his hand weakly and said, "Mr. Fan, please get up." ”

Fan Wencheng stood up with his hands tied and stood respectfully beside the bed.

"This king called Mr. here, there is really something important..."

Dolgon coughed several times as he spoke, and finally coughed up blood.

Fan Wencheng was taken aback.

I remember that when I met the regent a few days ago, I was in good spirits, but how did I become like this after a few days?

"Lord Wang, speak slowly."

Dolgon smiled bitterly: "Hanzhong was lost, and Korea also declared war on our Qing Dynasty. Now I, the Manchurians, can be said to be enemies on all sides. ”

Fan Wencheng also heard the news of the loss of Hanzhong, but he didn't know that North Korea had declared war, so he was taken aback and said: "Lord Wang, North Korea really declared war?" ”

"This can still be fake, they have already issued a war letter..."

Dolgon coughed a few more times: "What this king is most worried about now is Liaodong. Liaodong is the land of Longxing in this dynasty, if there is a mistake, the consequences are unimaginable. ”

The Manchurians have always regarded Liaodong as a real territory, even after entering the customs.

This is because they don't know if they can really unify the Central Plains.

They are always vigilant, and if they are really kicked out of the customs in the future, they will at least have a place to stay.

How did Fan Wencheng, as one of the first Han Chinese who followed Nurhachi, not know this?

Hearing Dorgon say this, he realized that Dorgon had wavered in his resolve.

Could it be that Dolgon wanted to abandon the lands in the Guannai and retreat outside the Shanhai Pass?

The more Fan Wencheng thought about it, the more frightened he became, and hurriedly said, "Don't worry too much, Lord Wang. North Korea is a country of projectiles. At that time, Dongjiang Town couldn't help my Qing Dynasty, and a mere North Korea couldn't set off any strong winds and waves. ”

He paused for a moment and then said: "On the contrary, the Ming court is the trouble of my confidants of the Qing Dynasty, and the prince should focus more on dealing with the Ming army." ”

Dorgon smiled bitterly, "This king doesn't know this. But now that Hanzhong is lost, Shang Kexi commits suicide, and the door to Guanzhong is wide open. Do you think Azig will be able to hold Xi'an? ”

Fan Wencheng was silent.

Xi'an itself is not an easy place to defend. It relies on nothing more than Tongguan in the east and Hanzhong in the south. Now that Hanzhong has lost its position, the Ming army can calmly advance with its troops.

And the Qing army could only passively wait for the Ming army to come.

"If it's just Hanzhong, this king is worried that the Ming army will march from many roads."

Dolgon was a resourceful man, and he didn't expect the Ming army to give him a respite. If the Ming army divided its forces to attack him from multiple directions, what should he do?

"Lord, let him come a few ways, we just need to build a fence."

Even Fan Wencheng himself didn't believe this.

The balance of strength between the Ming and Qing dynasties has been reversed. Now it is bright and strong.

Whether it is military strength, financial resources, or territory.

"The prince might as well transfer Wu Sangui to Shaanxi to reinforce Prince Ying."

After thinking about it again and again, Fan Wencheng offered a strategy.

Dorgon shook his head.

"Wu Sangui is extremely shrewd, and he is not a person who is willing to suffer. This person will be avenged, and Azig deliberately suppressed him before to force him away. Now it is absolutely impossible to ask Wu Sangui to return to Shaanxi to reinforce Azig. ”

Although Fan Wencheng was reluctant to admit it, he also had to accept this fact.

Wu Sangui is no longer the Wu Sangui who sacrificed Shanhaiguan at the beginning.

Today's Wu Sangui garrison in Henan is like a warlord, and he does not listen to the seal.

In this case, it is obviously unrealistic to expect Wu Sangui to help someone who has humiliated him.

"If Wu Sangui can't do it, what about Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming?"

Dolgon closed his eyes and said in a very complicated voice, "These two are very loyal to me. But Mr. Fan thought about what would happen to Gyeonggi's defense if he didn't transfer them all away? ”

Fan Wencheng's heart sank.

The Tianyou Army in the hands of Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming had the most artillery in the Qing Army. And artillery is a weapon for defending the city.

If the Tianyou army is transferred away, and the Ming army invades from the northeast of Shanxi, then Gyeonggi will be very dangerous.

Unexpectedly, the Qing Dynasty was already in a dilemma.

...

...