In the fourteenth year of Yongli, Nanchang, at this time, the market has disappeared from the depression when the city was first restored last year, as for the outer city that was burned down by the Qing army defending the city, most of this will have been restored as before, for the people here, the trauma caused by the war is fading away little by little. For them, they are experiencing a change of "changing the dynasty", but this change is what they are willing to see from the bottom of their hearts, no need for the government to say much, the Han family clothes at the bottom of the box are once again worn on the body, and the head is also wearing a net scarf of "unifying the mountains and rivers".

Just wait for the success of his Northern Expedition, the world will be peaceful! At that time, the people will be able to live a peaceful life.

After all, the "Ming Pao" issued by Jiangbei had been distributed to Nanchang a few months ago, and at the beginning, the "Ming Pao" was brought by businessmen, and later the "Ming Pao" set up a distribution room in Nanchang, and even now it has set up a branch in Nanchang and printed the newspaper on the spot. The most important thing is that the people have an extra channel to learn about state affairs, unlike in the past, which is completely hearsay from local readers.

Especially with some teahouses and taverns in order to solicit business, they specially invite newspaper readers to read newspapers to their guests, so that more people can hear newspapers in many places, and this way has intensified the spread of news in newspapers, when the official newspapers and periodicals are transmitted to the ears of ordinary people through the mouths of newspaper readers in teahouses and taverns.

With this change in the direction of public opinion, it is naturally the people's will that will change with it. Those remarks on the restoration of China, the expulsion of the Manchus, and the disclosure of the atrocities of the Manchus one by one, caused a huge shock among the gentry and common people everywhere, and even reached the point of "deafening". After all, those Manchurians had never treated the Han as human beings.

Under the guidance of such public opinion, the hostility of ordinary people to the Manchu Qing Dynasty is increasing day by day, and they are also eager for the restoration of the Ming Dynasty. It is precisely because of this that people will pay attention to the war situation all day long and care about the news of the army's westward expedition. Almost every news that comes from the front will make them happy.

It was noon, and the streets of Nanchang City were bustling with pedestrians. In this lively street market, the loud shouting of the newsboy suddenly sounded:

"Look at the newspaper, look at me, General Li Linchuan, the general of Jiujiang in the Ming Dynasty, led 100,000 grams of troops to restore Wuchang. Look at the newspaper and read the newspaper, Wuchang Kefu! Wuchang Kefu! ”

The good news came suddenly, so that all the literate passers-by stopped one after another, bought newspapers from the hands of the newsboys, bought newspapers and read newspapers, and listened to the illiterate ones, and everyone's faces were filled with joy from the bottom of their hearts.

"Look at the newspaper, read the newspaper! Wuchang is restored! ”

Wuchang is restored!

The Qing army in Wuchang surrendered without a fight, isn't this the heart of the people in the world in my Ming Dynasty, or what?

The sudden good news made the people suddenly become ecstatic, and some excited people ran to the roadside shops and bought firecrackers. Firecrackers were lit there as if celebrating the New Year. Celebrating the victory in their own way. In their view, this victory was the prelude to the Northern Expedition, and soon the Han people would be restored. Excited people lit strings of firecrackers, so that the street resounded with firecrackers, and the whole city seemed to be jubilant in the sound of firecrackers. It seems that everyone is immersed in this victory.

Wuchang is recovered!

Then the next step should be the whole Daming!

As soon as he entered the academy a long time ago, Li Liqing heard the sound of firecrackers in the academy, and some classmates in the academy were lighting firecrackers there to celebrate the victory. There were also classmates in the academy who said to him as soon as they met.

"Did you hear that? The Qing army in Wuchang surrendered without a fight, and General Li has already recovered Wuchang, it seems that in a month or two at most, Huguang will return to the Ming Dynasty! ”

"No, I'm afraid that in a few months, I will be able to cut off the head of that old thief......"

In the joyful words of his classmates, Li Liqing couldn't help but say.

"What can I do if I win the battle, then Li Ziyuan was able to betray Zhu Jingluo at the beginning, and now that he has captured Wuchang, he can still betray Shao Sima!"

Compared with his ecstatic classmates, Li Liqing seems a bit maverick.

Li Liqing has never had the slightest good impression of that family, the reason why this is so is because when he broke through Nanchang, he ordered to kill thousands of soldiers, and those soldiers except for a few Qing troops, most of them were local people, if it weren't for Shao Sima's urgent order, I am afraid that the tens of thousands of soldiers would be killed by Li Ziyuan, after all, he was going to kill all the soldiers. In the end, because of the military order, only killed, and most of the thousands of people survived and were released home.

And Li Liqing's father and brother were not so lucky, they all died under his knife. It is precisely because of this that he holds a grudge against Li Ziyuan.

"Peiren, in fact, when General Li ordered the surrender, it was also a last resort, if it wasn't for the people who defended the city to help the Qing army defend the city and swore to resist the Ming army, how could General Li be angry and order the surrender when the city was broken?"

Knowing why his friend said this, Zhao En, persuaded him.

When the Qing army in Nanchang defended the city, the most powerful was not the Qing army defending the city, but the people who were levied in the city, they all tried their best to help the Qing army defend the city and swore to resist the Ming army. The reason why the people in the city are like this is because ten years ago, the Manchu Qing "General of the Southern Expedition" Tan Tai carried out a massacre in Nanchang, when Jin Shenghuan and Wang Deren returned to Yongli anyway, and then they sent troops to attack Ganzhou and failed, and after returning to Nanchang, they were besieged by the Manchu army for a long time, and the food in the city was exhausted, and the fleeing people were indiscriminately slaughtered by the Manchu army. After the city was broken, not only Jin Shenghuan, Wang Deren and the soldiers defending the city were martyred, but the Manchu army slaughtered the people in the city. About 200,000 people were slaughtered in the city of Nanchang. In addition, the series of massacres carried out by the Qing army in Jiangxi have frightened the courage and popular will of a considerable number of people.

The reason why they were afraid was because the Qing army was different from the Ming army, and the Qing army had already issued a proclamation "Tell the officials, gentry, soldiers, and civilians of the Southern Dynasty to know...... In the prefectures and counties that have passed, there are those who can cut their hair and surrender to Shun, open the city and pay money, that is, with Juelu, and keep the world rich and noble. If there is any resistance, as soon as the soldiers arrive, the jade will be burned and slaughtered. ”

It's not a verbal threat, it's a matter of walking the talk. The Qing army never had any scruples, and they never minded using the knife in their hands to establish their prestige. to kill the resistance of the people.

It is precisely because of this that when Zhang Huangyan led the troops to Nanchang. When the Qing army in Nanchang chose to defend the city, compared with the people in some places, they opened the city gate to welcome the king's move. However, the local people in Nanchang believed that the Manchu Qing had ruled the whole country and could not resist the Ming Dynasty at all, so even if the Ming army broke the city now, it would eventually be recaptured by the Qing army. In order to avoid the fate of being slaughtered by the Manchus in the future and leaving no remnants of the family, they would rather sacrifice themselves to be loyal martyrs of the Qing Dynasty in order to protect the city.

Even in their private thoughts, since Zhang Shangshu was benevolent and loved the people, he would naturally not kill the people, even if he couldn't defend the city, most of them would not be embarrassed by helping the Qing army defend the city before. In fact, even if the people help the Qing army defend the city, they often will not be held accountable. Most of the time, the attacking side will think that they are being coerced by the Qing army, so they will help the Qing army in the city to defend the city.

Not only the people of Nanchang are like this, but also the people of other places, just a few years ago, the official palace newspaper also commended the people of Xinhui for their righteous deeds when the "Western Bandits" attacked the city, when Li Dingguo attacked Xinhui, the people in the city all tried their best to help the Qing army defend the city, swore to resist the Ming army, and even in the case that Li Dingguo chose to besiege the city for a long time in order to save the lives of the local people as much as possible. Faced with the dilemma of running out of food in the city, the people in the city volunteered to sacrifice a two-legged sheep for the Qing army in the city. There are many festival wives and martyrs who volunteered to serve as military rations to save their fathers, brothers and husbands, and after the war, they earned many martyrdoms and corresponding commendations for their families.

The absurdity is so absurd, it is really beyond the imagination of the world, the selfishness of human nature is undoubtedly manifested in these people, perhaps they are not full of pure rule, but when it is really related to their own vital interests or the life of the family, there are indeed a considerable number of people who would rather choose to help the abuse, for the tiger, so as to protect themselves. This has nothing to do with the hearts of the people, who are afraid to help the invaders.

The same is true in Nanchang, the people have the courage to help the Qing army defend the city, but just because they have made up their minds, even if they break the Ming army, they will not do anything to them, if they can hold it, they do not need to worry about the future massacre of the Qing army. It's just that what the people in the city didn't expect was that after the city was broken, Li Ziyuan would order the slaughter of Ding Zhuang as a retaliation for helping the Qing army defend the city and resist the Ming army's attack. If it weren't for Zhang Huangyan's order to stop him after learning the news, I'm afraid that Ding Zhuang in this city would be killed.

Although he was very happy that Jiangxi could return to the Ming Dynasty, he could not forget the "brutality" of Li Ziyuan's order to kill all the soldiers, especially the "hatred" of killing his father and brother.

"Angry with its people, help defend it, and order it to kill all its strong. So what is the difference between Li Thief and Qing Prisoner if he is so brutal? ”

Li Liqing immediately said in annoyance. He agrees in his heart that Da Ming is orthodox, but it does not mean that he can let go of his personal hatred.

"Don't be like this, General Li was also angry at that time, after all, it is not easy for the army to attack the city......"

Zhao En persuaded his friend.

"What's more, the matter has passed, if you want to blame it, blame that Qingyu is hateful!"

Knowing such complaints, Li Liqing, who no one wanted to listen to, was persuaded by his friends like this, so he stopped talking. Who can blame it? If you want to blame, you can only blame the Qing army. As for the people, the people are too pitiful.

"How about it, Jiangxi will reopen the township test this year, I wonder if Peiren is ready to go to the test?"

Zhao En looked at Li Liqing and asked. Trying to divert from the previous topic.

"Do you want me to be honest?"

Li Liqing asked rhetorically.

"Of course."

"It's okay if you don't take the township test this time, you look at Zheng Yanping's township test in Nanjing, Shao Sima wants to open a township test in Jiangxi, and Zhu Jingluo recruits talents in Jiangbei, you look at the three of them, although they seem to be loyal to the country, but they have their own thoughts, how can they achieve great things? If they have been in the same bed like this for a long time, this Ming world will have to bury them one day sooner or later. ”

When it comes to the current three-legged situation of Zheng Chenggong, Zhang Huangyan, and Zhu Mingzhong in Jiangnan, Zhu Liqing looks angry. Through the newspapers, he was able to see a lot of news, and the content of those news was some of the officialdom that she had not been able to know in the past. And it was these news that made him have little confidence in the future. Because he saw the possibility of infighting, the contradiction between the three of them, and the reality of different dreams in the same bed.

"I know, you think they're in the same bed and have different dreams, and sooner or later there will be a commotion."

This is not news, it can be said that everyone knows that Zheng Chenggong, Zhang Huangyan, and Zhu Mingzhong are the mainstays of the daimyo. But they also have their own thoughts.

"When the Ming Dynasty was in control of Jiangnan, if there was no one with their own ghosts, how could Jiangnan be occupied by the Qing Dynasty so quickly."

Li Liqing said with a burst of words. This is also a view of scholars everywhere. Many of them think that the situation is very delicate. Although the momentum of Daming Zhongxing is unstoppable, its own potential problems are unavoidable.

There are even some people who believe that maybe one day, these three generals who lead 100,000 troops may have infighting. When the time comes, it will be all over in Daming. Of course, this is only the opinion of a very small number of people, and most people are more optimistic.

"Then you also have to be considerate of the current situation, after all, the imperial court is far away in the southwest, and the communication with the southeast has been cut off for many years. They can only do their own thing like now, and in my opinion, such a three-legged stand is a good thing, if it is a monopoly, it is a bad thing. ”

Zhao En said helplessly. The three-legged stand is not a bad thing, at least it can make all three parties have some scruples. So as not to have infighting, and then their goals are all on the great cause of opposing the Qing Dynasty.

While speaking, Lin Baichuan walked over, listened to their words, and echoed on the side.

"It's not, it's a bad thing for a family to be dominant, although it is said to be a three-legged stand now, but Zheng Wangye, Shao Sima, and Zhu Jingluo are all loyal ministers who are dedicated to the country, so naturally they will not kill each other and break each other's tables, so, what situation are you still worried about, do you want to wait for the situation to stabilize in the future, and then test your fame! Could it be that he is still thinking in his heart that the fame of the north is easy to test? Want to sell your body and can't get along? ”

The reason why Lin Baichuan said this was because the fame of the Manchu Qing Dynasty was easier to test, and he also knew that Li Liqing complained a lot about Li Ziyuan and even Shao Sima because his father and brother were killed, so naturally he was not very polite in his words. But they were indeed willing to help the Qing army defend the city. So even if they are killed, there is nothing to be wronged, after all, they have also killed many officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty.

And Li Liqing has always held a grudge against his father and brother because he was killed by the famous officers and soldiers, which in Lin Baichuan's eyes is undoubtedly equivalent to being a traitor. For this kind of good and bad behavior, he is naturally cynical.

"The surname is Lin, what are you talking about!"

The words of his classmate made Li Liqing suddenly angry and said:

"You heard me clearly, I'm worried that the good situation in the world will be ruined by their selfishness, don't forget, everyone has selfishness!"

Everyone has a private voice.

Let Zhao En look at his friend seriously, this is indeed the truth, and finally he just smiled.

"Peiren, you must be thinking too much."

Although he said so, but in his heart, he thought that if it weren't for "everyone has selfishness", how could Li Liqing be full of complaints about Li Ziyuan, I hope, I hope they can all serve the country wholeheartedly!

Thinking like this in his heart, Li Liqing couldn't help but look into the distance, with some worries about the future in his expression. His worries were accompanied by worries about the future situation. Maybe he was hostile to some people because of the killing of his father and brother, but that didn't mean he didn't care about Daming.

Of course, for some people, they can't understand his contradiction, in fact, if it were replaced by someone else and conquered Wuchang, maybe he would clap his hands and congratulate him, but now, because his family was killed by Li Ziyuan, it is difficult for him to let go of his personal prejudice and cheer for his victory!

After all, everyone has his own selfish intentions. And everyone has their own ideas. Just like his classmates, because of his selfishness's cynicism towards him.

"But isn't it, if everyone is not selfish, then how can the Manchus occupy the world of my Ming Dynasty, and how can there be so many people willing to serve the Manchus when they were defending the city."

The cynicism of his classmates made Li Liqing's face more and more difficult, and it seemed that he didn't want to defend himself anymore. just silently turned away and left.

Leaving the academy again, Li Liqing walked to Nanchang City, and on the way home, he looked at the celebratory people and listened to the sound of firecrackers in his ears. The whole person looked a little sullen, and when he was walking in the city, he looked towards the yamen when he passed by. Looking at the yamen, another thought popped up in my heart.

"Is this game really as smooth as it seems?"