After hearing what Emperor Zhu Lunkui said, Ma Cheng quickly knelt on the ground on his knees and said loudly: "Minister Ma Cheng obeys the order!" After speaking, Ma Cheng got up and left the Qianqing Palace.

Although Ma Cheng left, no one in the hall spoke, and everyone couldn't figure out what Ma Cheng wanted to do. Zhu Lunkui's ultimate goal today is to cut off Ma Cheng's military power, and now the task has been completed, in addition to cutting off the real power in Ma Cheng's hands, even the fictitious post of the governor of the Chinese army has been removed, and it stands to reason that Zhu Lunkui should be happy. But Zhu Lunkui was really not happy, and always felt that something was wrong.

Qian Qianyi and Zhu Lunkui have similar ideas, Qian Qianyi has discussed with the emperor before, and today is to cut Ma Cheng's military power, but this result makes Qian Qianyi also confused. Ruan Dacheng is similar to Qian Qianyi, but he didn't expect Ma Cheng to take the initiative to hand over the military power, which is different from the Ma Cheng that Ruan Dacheng knew.

Ruan Dacheng frowned and thought: Could it be that this kid has any other tricks? But there is no at present, the northern captives have returned to Jiangbei, and they will not invade the south for a year and a half, and King Lu of Yangzhou has also agreed to revoke the title of prisoner, why did Ma Cheng hand over his military power?

Ruan Dacheng looked at Ma Shiying suspiciously, thinking that there must be something wrong with this father and son, but Ma Shiying was also confused. Originally, Ma Shiying only wanted Ma Cheng to hand over the errand of guarding the southern capital, after all, this official position was too sensitive, and the emperor would not rest assured that this position would be handed over to Ma Cheng. But I didn't expect Ma Cheng to hand over all his duties, I really can't figure out what Ma Cheng is thinking.

Ma Shiying saw Ruan Dacheng's suspicious gaze, snorted and stood up and said, "Your Majesty, there is nothing to do!" ”

Zhu Lunkui nodded and asked Ma Shiying to retreat, and Ruan Dacheng also went out with him, leaving Zhu Lunkui and Qian Qianyi in the hall. Zhu Lunkui thought for a while and asked, "Qian Aiqing, what do you think Ma Cheng is doing this?" ”

Qian Qianyi didn't know either, so he had to answer truthfully: "Your Majesty, the minister doesn't know, probably Ma Cheng is tired!" ”

When Ma Cheng didn't hand over the military power just now, Zhu Lunkui hated him to death, but Ma Cheng handed over all the power, and Zhu Lunkui remembered Ma Cheng's benefits again. At that time, if Ma Cheng hadn't supported Zhu Lunkui to ascend the throne, would it be his turn to be on the throne of this emperor? There was also the bloody battle on the treasure gate, Zhu Lunkui remembered the scars on Ma Cheng's body just now, and said guiltily: "Hey, I'm sorry for Guiyang Hou!" ”

Qian Qianyi saw that Zhu Lunkui regretted it, and hurriedly persuaded: "Your Majesty, don't be soft-hearted!" Although Ma Cheng is loyal to His Majesty, who knows what his subordinate generals think, when Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin and Chai Rong were brothers in life and death, weren't they also coerced by their subordinates Chen Qiao to mutiny? Now His Majesty has relieved Ma Cheng of his military power, precisely to protect him! ”

Zhu Lunkui's original soft heart began to harden again under Qian Qianyi's persuasion, yes! Although Ma Cheng is loyal, it is difficult to guarantee what his subordinates think. Now this kind of ending is just right, Ma Cheng hands over the military power, and I can ensure that his whole family is rich, this is the perfect solution.

Zhu Lunkui nodded, and then asked: "Qian Aiqing, now that Ma Cheng has handed over the military power, who do you say should be the leading general?" ”

The emperor's words stumped Qian Qianyi, if he played politics, he Donglin Party was full of talents, and it was enough to reorganize the two cabinets, but no one could really do the technical work of fighting a war. In the past, the Donglin Party also contacted several military generals, such as Liu Zeqing in the four towns of Jiangbei and Zuo Liangyu in Wuchang, but Liu Zeqing took refuge in Ma Shi

Ying, now he has taken refuge in the Manchu Qing Dynasty, as for Zuo Liangyu, he has been dead for more than a year, and his army has disappeared, so there is really no suitable candidate for the commander of the army on the side of the Donglin Party.

Qian Qianyi thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty, is it feasible for Lu Siye, the Governor of the Southern Capital?" ”

Qian Qianyi also had no choice, so he had to push out the nephew of his political ally Lu Jiude, Lu Jiude stood beside the emperor and listened to Qian Qianyi's heart beat wildly, he didn't expect hundreds of thousands of troops to fall into his hands.

But Lu Jiude thought very well, but the emperor disagreed: "Lu Siye can't do it, he wants to guard the southern capital, and the city is the focus." And Mei Chun can't do it, he has to guard Miyagi! ”

Now that Zhu Lunkui has just grasped power, it is naturally impossible to hand over power to one person again, Mei Chun and Lu Jiude are not the same system, and Mei Chun is extremely loyal to the royal family, so the most important palace will be handed over to Mei Chun to guard. Nandu is the capital, and it is also the top priority, so it is handed over to the nephew of his henchman Lu Jiude to guard.

Qian Qianyi listened to his proposal and was vetoed by the emperor, and he was also very scratched in his heart, this general is not easy to choose, not to mention being loyal to the emperor, he must be capable, or hundreds of thousands of troops are handed over to him, he really can't rest assured. But now there are not many generals in Nanjing who are qualified to lead the army, and most of them are Ma Cheng's subordinates. In the past, it would be okay if those nobles were alive, after all, the family history still has some ability, but these nobles have to go to the Manchu Qing Dynasty if they don't die, and in the end, the whole family is killed, so that now they don't want to choose a qualified general.

Qian Qianyi lowered his head and thought for a long time, and finally remembered someone, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the minister recommends a person, the original Xicheng Commander, and the current Caojiang Admiral Luo Bingran!" ”

Luo Bingran made meritorious contributions in the Battle of Nanjing, and was promoted to the rank of Admiral of Caojiang when he made meritorious contributions after the war. In the Ming Dynasty, the commander of the Caojiang River in Nanjing had a lot of power in his hands, probably equivalent to the commander-in-chief of the Yangtze River in later generations, in charge of all shipping and warships from Nanjing to Wuchang.

However, at this time, the Ming army sailors either fled to Zhejiang with Zheng Hongkui, or surrendered to the Manchu Qing Dynasty under the leadership of Zuo Mengeng, and now there are only seven or eight small boats in Luo Bingran's hands, so this Caojiang Admiral is really not worthy of the name. This is also a means for the emperor to guard against Ma Cheng, transfer all your cronies and generals away, and see how majestic your Ma Cheng is.

Zhu Lunkui frowned when he heard Qian Qianyi's recommendation of Luo Bingran, and asked, "Qian Aiqing, isn't this Luo Bingran Ma Cheng's subordinate?" ”

"Your Majesty doesn't know, although this Luo Bingran is under the jurisdiction of Ma Cheng, Luo Bingran was not born in Guizhou, but a local guard officer in Fengyang, Ma Shiying served as the supervisor of Fengyang, and Luo Bingran took refuge in Ma Cheng!"

Qian Qianyi's meaning is obvious, this Luo Bingran is a woman who has milk and is a mother, and now that Ma Cheng has fallen, Luo Bingran naturally wants to find a new master, but how can there be a master in this world who is bigger than the emperor? So as long as the emperor is gracious to Luo Bingran, he will easily become the emperor's dog.

Lu Jiude on the side of Zhu Lunkui also said: "Master, what Master Qian said is very right, when the old slave used to supervise the army in Fengyang, this Luo Bingran also came to take refuge in the old slave, and later Ma Shiying was powerful, so Luo Bingran turned to Ma Cheng!" ”

Zhu Lunkui nodded when he heard Lu Jiude say this, and said to Qian Lide: "Okay, Qian Aiqing has drafted a decree, Luo Bingran has made great contributions in the battle of Nandu and has been promoted to Gao Yangbo."

, Governor of Jiangnan, Temperate the armies outside the city! ”

When Qian Qianyi heard the emperor say this, he hurriedly brought the paper, and then wrote a letter, handed it to Zhu Lunkui to watch, and then covered it with the emperor's jade seal, and then Lu Jiude went to Luo Bingran to pass the decree. As for how Luo Bingran cried bitterly after receiving the holy decree, if he swore to be Zhu Lunkui's dog, this is not the focus of this book.

Ma Cheng is now unofficial and light, got out of the palace and rode back to his home, called Changshi Wang Xian over, arranged for him to prepare for all the military and political power outside the city to the generals sent by the emperor.

Wang Xian was taken aback when he heard Ma Cheng say this, and hurriedly asked, "Master Hou, but what happened just now?" Why do you have to surrender your military power? ”

Ma Cheng smiled, and then told him what happened in the Qianqing Palace just now. Wang Xian patted his thigh with regret when he heard Ma Cheng finish speaking: "Master Hou, then it won't be enough to hand over all the military power!" Now the Hou Ye has become a fish on the chopping board, and the emperor can cut it whenever he wants! ”

Speaking of this, Wang Xian also regretted taking refuge in Ma Cheng, if Ma Cheng was unlucky, Wang Xian, as a confidant and strategist, would definitely be unlucky.

Ma Cheng saw what Wang Xian was thinking, and comforted him with a smile: "Mr. Wang, don't worry, in less than two months, how to hand over the power is going to be taken back, and it will be doubled back!" ”

Wang Xian turned his worries into joy when he heard Ma Cheng say this, and asked, "Master Hou, but what changes have been made on the front line?" ”

"It's not news from Jiangbei, it's from Hangzhou! Ben Hou has news that King Lu of Hangzhou has raised troops, and the name of fighting is to maintain the orthodoxy of the royal family. Now the DPRK and China have not received any news, but it is estimated that it will be soon! ”

Wang Xian was overjoyed when he heard Ma Cheng say this, and hurriedly asked, "Master Hou, is that what preparations should be made first?" Preparedness in case something goes wrong! ”

"Yes, Ben Hou came to you for this purpose, you go and tell the generals in the army, let them listen to the words of the new commander, and do what they should do. Send a message to Zhang Guozhu in Suzhou and Ma Bao in Taiping Mansion, telling them to retreat immediately as long as the army of King Lu is present, and not to engage the army of King Lu! ”

"Retreat? Don't you fight a battle? ”

Ma Cheng nodded: "Yes, if you don't fight, Zhang Guozhu will retreat to Longtan Town, and Ma Bao will retreat to Dasheng Pass and station, where he will wait for Benhou's order!" ”

The distance between Longtan Town and Nanjing is more than 20 miles, and the distance between Dashengguan and Nanjing is more than 10 miles. Wang Xian didn't expect Ma Cheng to be so ruthless, and he did not hesitate to let the people of Jiangnan experience war again for his own interests.

However, Wang Xian is not a good man and a woman, he knows that he can't be kind and soft-faced if he does big things, in order to defend his rights, it is understandable that the people of Jiangnan are dying hundreds of thousands, where is the reward for not sacrificing?

After Wang Xian wrote down Ma Cheng's order, he went out to start preparations, and sent his own soldiers to deliver messages to various cronies and generals.

At this time, Ma Cheng received a message from Lao Tzu Ma Shiying at home and asked him to go there at night. Ma Cheng knew that this was Lao Tzu's unease, and he wanted to ask himself what he wanted to do. However, Ma Cheng didn't want to have a real relationship with Ma Shiying, because Ma Cheng has been in the past two years, Ma Shiying is still relatively loyal to the Ming Dynasty, and now the overall situation is undecided If you tell the truth with Ma Shiying, it is difficult to say that Ma Shiying is hot-headed and has a righteous death, so Ma Cheng plans to hide his Lao Tzu from him.