Chongzhen ten years, the tenth day of the fifth lunar month. Pen fun and pavilion www.biquge.info

North Korea.

Namhansanseong.

A middle-aged man dressed in ordinary Korean civilian clothes, with half-white hair and a thin and haggard face, was walking at the watchtower on the south gate of Namsan Fortress, looking at the dense Qing army camp tent under the Mochizuki Peak not far from the city gate with a frightened and uneasy look.

This middle-aged man is the Korean king Yi Liang who disguised himself as a common man and went to the city gate to spy on the enemy.

Since being besieged by the Qing army in this southern Han mountain city, due to the lack of grain and grass in the city, Li Liang has suffered from famine, and after the monarch and the soldiers have eaten up the little grain in the city, they began to loot the grain from the people's homes, and even after the food stolen by the people's homes was eaten, they were forced to kill the horses in the army and eat, and the people in the city who were robbed of the food by their own army had already starved to death. The entire city of Namhansan is filled with an atmosphere of despair and panic.

In addition to the collapse of the situation, rumors flew in the city from time to time, such as the Qing army was about to come to seize the city, and rumors such as Youzuo stealing the city gate were spread almost every day, so that Li Liang was not only suffering from hunger, but also in a state of mental tension at all times.

And the Qing army outside the city did not let him worry. Almost every day, the Qing army marched around the mountain fortress of Nanhan, shouting that the Korean monarchs and ministers would surrender, and saying that if they did not surrender, the whole city would be killed by the army and the people, and the jade would be burned.

The combination of all these circumstances made King Li Liang, who was no more than forty-five years old, frightened, and quickly aged and haggard, and at this time, from the outward appearance, he was no different from an old man who was almost sixty.

He was followed by two people, one was his favorite right-wing minister Jin Zidian, and the other was his trusted counselor Hong Yihan, and the two were also disguised as civilians.

Li Liang peeked in the direction of Qingying for a long time before he put down the clairvoyant mirror in his hand, but his face was full of confusion.

"It's strange, in the past few days, why hasn't the Qing army sent people outside the city to shout and persuade them to surrender, and in the camp, the flags are scattered, and there are no soldiers who are practicing intensively, but somehow?"

Li Qi muttered to himself.

"Could it be that the Qing army is ready to give up attacking Namhansan Fortress and is ready to attack elsewhere?" With a pair of sharp triangular eyes and two long rat whiskers, he whispered on the side.

"Probably not, the Qing army has surrounded this Nanhan Mountain City like an iron bucket, and it should be a decisive plan to break the city in one fell swoop. Based on what Weichen sees, I am afraid that in the Qing court, what changes may have happened? Hong Yihan speculated with a frown on the side.

The three of them were muttering and muttering at the head of the city, and suddenly they saw dozens of horsemen and horses on the official road in the west, waving various flags, swaggering all the way.

When he saw clearly that this group of people was beating the North Korean military flag and the sun and moon flag of the Ming Kingdom, Li Liang's jaw almost dropped.

What made him even more stunned was that there were patrolling Qing soldiers next to him, opening the way for them, as if this group of people was a guest invited by the Qing army.

This, what's going on?

Jin Zidian and Hong Yihan on the side also looked at each other, and both of them felt that their heads were short-circuited in an instant.

It wasn't until the group was about to reach the south gate that Li Liang saw clearly that among the people in this group, the first person was his second brother Ayahara Maharaja Li Li, the general Li Renzhan, and a white-clothed showman dressed in Ming costumes.

In Li Liang's heart, he suddenly felt a very bad mood surging up.

Could it be that Jianghua Island City has been lost, so that the Qing army took these imperial prisoners and came to land on their own?

It's just that he soon felt that his guess was wrong, because he saw from the clairvoyant mirror that the second brother Li Li in front of him and the general Li Renzhan both had happy expressions on their faces.

How can anyone who has been captured still smile like this?

And as the group approached the city gate, the Qing troops who were escorting dispersed on their own, allowing the group to go to Namhanshan Fortress on their own.

Such a strange scene made Li Liang's heart more and more confused.

"Let's go down to the city quickly, change our clothes and prepare, and see what the second brother is here?" Seeing that Li Li and his party were getting closer and closer, Li Liang, who was puzzled in his heart, finally opened his mouth and said to Jin Zidian and Hong Yihan on the side.

After Dao Li Liang and the others changed their clothes, in addition to Jin Zidian and Hong Yihan, he also brought his eldest son Li Wei, the son of Zhaoxian, the third brother Li Yan, the third son of Ayachang, Li Jun, the third son of Linping, Li Jun, the fourth son, Li Roll, the prince of Longcheng, and Yin Ji, Wu Daji and other Xinzhong civil officials, and went to the south gate together.

As soon as they arrived at the south gate, they heard the second brother outside the city, Ayabara Maharaja Li Li, shouting loudly: "Brother Huang, please open the city gate quickly, I am waiting to come to Namhanshan Castle, but there is great good news, I want to report to the imperial brother." ”

Before Li Liang could speak, the third brother on the side, Ayachang Monarch Li Yan, ran up to the city tower and shouted loudly to Li Li: "Second brother, don't blame the younger brother for asking directly, but you have become a prisoner of the Qing army, do you want to enter the city to persuade me to surrender?" ”

Li Li looked up and saw his younger brother Li Yan's frightened and uneasy expression, so he shook his head and laughed: "Third brother, you are too worried, I will wait to enter the city, if I report to the imperial brother, now that the Ming soldiers have reached an agreement with the Qing Dynasty, my Korea can finally stop fighting with the Qing Dynasty." ”

Li Renzhan, the general on the side, also shouted: "Lord Ayachang, we really came to Nanhan Mountain City to inform the emperor of this good news." Let us enter the city, and I will talk to the emperor in detail. ”

After Li Renzhan finished speaking, he pointed to the white-clothed Xiushi on the side and said: "Third brother, this is Chen Zanhua, the envoy of the Ming Kingdom, who came to discuss the signing of the agreement with the emperor under the order of Lord Li Xiao, the left governor of the Ming Kingdom. ”

Li Liang and the others were at the gate of the city, and when they heard the words of Li Li and the others, they were all very happy.

He was the king of Li Liang, and he could hardly believe his own ears.

This arrogant Qing army was forced to sign an armistice agreement by the Ming army that came to the rescue?

Li Liang felt that his heartbeat had accelerated by at least a hundred beats, and an indescribable joy and relief instantly permeated his whole body.

"Congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the emperor, Weichen knows that the Ming Dynasty will never abandon the lower state, how can those Qing army Tartars be the opponents of the Ming soldiers." Yin Ji, the administrator of Yanguan, laughed loudly with a beaming face.

"Yes, since I arrived in Namhansanseong, my monarchs and ministers have suffered from the siege and famine, and now that this armistice agreement has been signed, not only will the saints be relieved, but I, the Korean people, can finally recuperate." Wu Daji, the editor of the Academy of Literature, was also full of joy on his face.

"Father, now that the agreement is about to be decided, please open the city gate quickly and welcome the second uncle and the envoy of the Ming Kingdom into the city." Zhaoxian's son, Li Wei, was also full of excitement and anxiously asked King Li Liang.

Li Liang's face was also full of joy, but in front of everyone, he still had to work hard to maintain the majesty and bearing of the king.

No wonder the defense of the Qing army outside the city is so lax now, no wonder no Qing cavalry came to shout for a forced landing, it turned out that there was a reason for everything.

Li Liang's heart was full of emotion, if it wasn't for the timely arrival of the Ming army to help, it is estimated that Jianghua Island City has fallen into the hands of the Qing army, and the royal family on the island has been captured.

This Zuo Governor of the Ming Kingdom named Li Xiao is really his own life-saving benefactor. After the armistice is signed, the king will be grateful to him.

Li Liang made up his mind, and immediately ordered the city gate to be opened to welcome Li Li and others into the city.

Entering the city, everyone saluted and introduced, and there was a long period of greetings, and then, Li Liangyan invited Li Li, Li Renzhan, Chen Zilong and others to enter the inner mansion to talk together.

After entering the living room, Li Liang extremely warmly invited Chen Zilong to sit on the top to show his respect for the envoy of the kingdom.

Next, Li Li, the great prince of Ayahara, briefly explained to Li Liang how the Ming army entered Jianghua Island, how to annihilate the Qing army's land and water divisions, and how to force Huang Taiji to sign an armistice agreement.

Hearing Li Xiao's agreement, in addition to keeping the captured Korean people and property, the Qing army did not need North Korea to pay tribute to the Qing Dynasty.

Grain, money, and wealth are the foundation of the country, and Li Liang certainly knows how much benefit he can bring to his stable rule over Korea without having to pay tribute to the Qing Dynasty.

"If it weren't for the Heavenly Empire, sending heavenly soldiers to help urgently, I am afraid that it will be difficult to fight against the Qing army in a lonely small state, and all the royal families will probably fall into the hands of the Qing people, and the consequences will be unimaginable. Now that North Korea is protected and the royal family is complete, it is the grace of the Ming Dynasty's reconstruction. This Chen Zanhua, please be worshiped by the lonely king! ”

After Li Liang finished speaking excitedly, he immediately got up and bowed to Chen Zilong.

"The emperor doesn't have to make this big gift." Chen Zilong hurriedly supported Li Liang, and then said with a smile: "I will go to the country tomorrow, and I have always appreciated your deference, so I sent troops to help, just like parents love their children." ”

Li Liang said with a grateful face: "The lord of the small state, I really thank the Heavenly Empire for such a righteous act of helping the needy, if the Qing army retreats, although the small state is poor in financial resources, but also wants to pay the heavenly soldiers of the kingdom for a good life, Fang Biao is grateful in his heart." ”

Chen Zilong said with a smile: "Your Majesty, my Ming official army entered North Korea not to reward it, but for the friendship between the two countries." Now that North Korea has experienced this military disaster, its property is scarce, but our army is not easy to accept it safely. If the emperor wants to reward our army, he does not need to take out any gold and silver treasures, but he can pull out a deserted island for our army to garrison. ”

When Li Qi heard this, he groaned for a while, and then said with a smile: "Although my North Korea is remote and poor, there are many islands, and if you can help your army, you should offer it." In the Apocalypse year, Mao Wenlong, the general of your country, once leased my country's linden island and renamed it Phi Island as a place for the army. Now, I don't know what island of our country is the place where I want to be a garrison? ”

Chen Zilong said with a smile: "The person who my family Li Du Du wants to take is Jeju Island, the exiled prisoner at the southern tip of your country. Li Dudu wanted to get this place, thinking that I was also the place where the Ming Sailor could garrison the troops. ”

Listening to Chen Zijing's words, the smile on Li Liang's face suddenly froze.

He knew that Jeju Island, although deserted, was the largest island in Korea, much larger than Phi Island, and that its geographical location was very important as the gateway to and from the Sea of Japan. Although there is no development of this island now, the development prospects of this place in the future should be considerable, if it is given to the Ming army like this, I am really a little reluctant to do so.

Seeing the embarrassment on Li Liang's face, Chen Zilong also smiled, changed it to a solemn tone, and said slowly: "Your Majesty, our army wants to get Jeju Island, but it is really out of overall considerations. First of all, if the Qing army violates the law and invades Korea in the future, it will be very convenient for our army's naval division to come to the rescue from Jeju, so as to prevent the Qing army from wantonly plundering and destroying Korea. Second, with our troops stationed on Jeju Island, Japan in the east will no longer dare to covet Korea, so the military and civilians along the Korean coast can be greatly stabilized. Therefore, in the view of this praise painting, the emperor is just a desert island for our army to distribute prisoners, and it does not cost a grain or a penny, a soldier and a people, you can do your best to protect the Ming officials and soldiers. ”

After Chen Zilong finished speaking, Li Li, the prince of Ayabara on the side, also hurriedly interjected: "Brother Huang, from the perspective of his ministers, what Chen Zanhua said is extremely true. Although Jeju Island is large, it is just an undeveloped desert island. Now that I am in North Korea, the wealth is exhausted and the people are poor, and I have more money to go to development? It is better to give this island to the Great Ming Soldiers stationed in the Tunshui Division, so that after the Ming Dynasty officials and troops get this island, they can help us North Korea to block the Qing court and East to Japan, so it is a good thing. ”

Speaking of this, Li Li lowered his voice and said: "If the Li Dudu, who has made great achievements in the hard war and helped me sign an armistice agreement between Korea and the Qing court, sees that the emperor refuses to give the island and leads the army to leave in anger, who will I be able to rely on in the land of Korea, and the three thousand miles of splendid rivers and mountains in my Korea will have to be ravaged by the Qing people?" ”

Seeing that the second brother Li Li said it so clearly, King Li Li's face suddenly appeared sad.

In the troubled times, the big countries are still fighting each other, and if a weak and small country like Korea is struggling to survive in the cracks, without the strong protection of the big powers, I am afraid that in the future, it will either be invaded by the Qing army in the south, or it will be invaded by Japan in the west, and the danger of destroying the country will be everywhere.

If the country does not exist and the royal family is gone, what is the use of such a deserted Jeju Island?

Taking a step back, if Li Xiao is an arrogant and rude person, he will not engage in this kind of courtesy exchange at all, but take advantage of North Korea's weakness to simply send troops to seize Jeju Island, and what countermeasures can he have except for dry staring?

It can be seen that this Li Dudu is willing to send an envoy to communicate with himself in such a negotiated tone, which has already given him enough face.

Weak countries have no diplomacy, and it is appropriate since ancient times.

Li Liang's face showed a faint wry smile.

"What Chen Zanhua and the second brother said is extremely true, Lone is all with the power of the great soldiers, and the Qing people are forced to retreat. Lone agreed, and after the Qing people retreated, Lone gave this island to Li Dudu. ”

Listening to Li Liang's answer, Chen Zilong had a bright smile on his face, and he exclaimed loudly: "The emperor is really sage, and he will be extremely happy to come to Li Dudu to get such news, and the diplomatic relations between the two countries can be further deepened." ”

Subsequently, Chen Zilong talked with Li Liang about the details of the handover of Jeju Island between the two countries at that time.

Chen Zilong generously said that the Ming Dynasty would never take advantage of North Korea, and could promise to help all the more than 20,000 North Korean soldiers and civilians on Jeju Island to help move back to South Jeolla Province in North Korea, and Li Xiao would pay for these people to settle down.

Seeing Chen Zilong so generous and bold, the Korean monarchs and ministers were very happy.

At this point, the gift of Jeju Island by North Korea to Li Xiao has basically been achieved.

After negotiating the Jeju Island, Chen Zilongfu and Li Liang agreed that they would set off for the estuary of the Han River early tomorrow morning to formally sign an armistice agreement with Li Xiao, the left governor of the Ming Kingdom, and Emperor Taiji of the Qing Dynasty.

That night, Li Qi ordered his subordinates to collect all the remaining wine and grain in Nanhan Mountain City, and took horse meat as the staple food, and finally entertained Chen Zilong and his party.

On this night, the king of Joseon, Yi Liang, finally slept soundly for the first time since the Qing army invaded.