"TechnoAlpin, we're not giving up on Yanchang County." Zhang Guodong explained, "We really don't have the ability to divide our troops. Let's not talk about the Nanyang matter, if the Manchu Qing Dynasty breaks through the barrier with all their strength this time, Mongolia, Korea, and Northeast China, the total strength of the Manchu Qing may reach 1780,000 or even 200,000. Wu Sangui's Guanning Iron Cavalry, Jiang Beiming's Quick Gun Team, Shenji Battalion, plus our independent first division, our strength is seventy or eighty thousand. It is not possible to extend the county without giving it up for the time being. ”

"Chairman Zhang, you only counted the strength of these aspects, and you didn't count the other armies of the Ming Dynasty." Leng Tianbing retorted, "Wang Pu of Datong, Yang Guozhu of Xuanfu Town, as well as Cao Bianjiao, Lu Xiangsheng, and Hong Chengchou. In the original history, the Ming Dynasty could still gather 130,000 horses in the Songjin War three years later, let alone now. ”

"TechnoAlpin, don't think too much about it, it's not a simple superposition of numbers." Xia Yang said, "Hong Chengchou and Lu Xiangsheng have to deal with Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong, they are likely to be unable to pull away, and other Ming troops, such as Wang Pu, can basically be ignored according to their combat effectiveness." ”

"Let's not talk about this issue for now, there is another problem." Leng Tianbing continued, "Xu Lang discussed with me before leaving, whether Huang Taiji would make peace with Chongzhen. ”

Leng Tianbing's words stunned everyone, and Han Wantao asked, "Why do you think so, can Huang Taiji make peace with Chongzhen?" ”

"We've analysed it, and there's a possibility." Leng Tianbing gestured and said, "At present, Li Zicheng has conquered Yan'an Mansion, and his troops are close to 100,000. If the Manchu Qing 200,000 Eight Banners attacked with all their might, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong and others stormed Xi'an, or waved their troops eastward, then the Ming Dynasty government would be attacked from inside and outside, and Chongzhen should not be able to bear it. Yang Sichang originally had the meaning of making peace with Huang Taiji, and he must first settle down inside. ”

"But if this is the case, the Ming Dynasty government can't bear it, how can Huang Taiji agree to make peace?" Wang Hua asked.

"That's the crux of the matter, because of Tao Min's existence." Leng Tianbing then explained, "Let's first analyze the position of our Yulin Bay among these forces. We are now the mortal enemy in Tao Min's eyes, and destroying us is Tao Min's first goal. And in Chongzhen's place, we didn't let him rest assured, especially now that Gao Qiqian is favored, he has made trouble in several things we did in Hainan. Tao Min can now influence or even control Li Zicheng, so his next step should be to control Chongzhen. ”

"Tao Min controls Chongzhen?" Han Wantao shouted first, "What do you General Staff think, how is this possible, how can he control Chongzhen?" ”

"Maybe I'm not expressing it accurately, it's not control but use." Leng Tianbing smiled, "Actually, Li Zicheng and Huang Taiji haven't thought about overthrowing the Ming Dynasty until now, they may think that they don't have that ability at all." Tao Min may incite these two forces to give Chongzhen a heavy blow, and then take the initiative to propose peace. But Tao Min's peace negotiation must be conditional, that is, several parties united to destroy Yulin Bay. If that's the case, do you think Chongzhen will agree? ”

Several people thought for a while, and Wang Hua asked: "Although your analysis is very reasonable, do you think Tao Min will be so smart, he can think of so much?" ”

Leng Tianbing shook his head: "I don't know, we just analyzed this possibility." ”

Han Wantao felt that the problem was a bit serious: "What if this is the case, we have to prepare in advance." ”

"Actually, don't worry too much, our General Staff just made such an inference, and the actual situation may not be so bad." Leng Tianbing smiled again, "Tao Min is likely to propose peace with Chongzhen, but the possibility of Chongzhen agreeing is very small, and we can use the power of the Donglin Party." Don't forget, Chen Xinjia will die in this matter, even if Chongzhen really has an idea, I'm afraid he won't dare. ”

"Whether it's serious or not, let your general staff say." Zhang Guodong said with a smile, "Wang Hua, let your General Affairs Department 2 pay close attention to the actions of all aspects, and speed up the transmission of information. We will implement today's resolution first, and then make adjustments if there are changes. ”

Tao Min stood in the back garden of the Governor's Palace, opposite Dominigo, the fifth Governor of Macau.

Dominic looked at Tao Min carefully, and Tao Min also looked at Dominic with a smile. The two of them just looked at each other like this, and finally Dominime asked again through the translator: "Honorable master, please allow me to ask you again, are you really the envoy of the Great Emperor of the Ming Dynasty?" ”

"Yes, the poor monk is the plenipotentiary of my emperor." Tao Min's current identity is Chongzhen's messenger, Master Kong.

"I'm sorry, Master." Dominic asked, "I don't doubt your identity, but I don't understand why your Emperor sent you to me, not an official of your government. ”

"Your Excellency the Governor, you don't understand the rules of our Orientals." Tao Min smiled, "There are some things that we can't do through formal channels, so we can only do them privately. ”

Dominica shrugged his shoulders in disunderstanding.

"That's what I'm telling you." Tao Min went on to explain, "It was not our Emperor's intention to expel the Dutch and Spaniards from Taiwan, but Yulinwan secretly collaborated with Zheng Zhilong, and our Emperor did not agree to do so. But Yulin Bay is now becoming more and more powerful, and because they are fighting against the Manchurians in the north, their influence in the court is now enormous. Although the Emperor is very dissatisfied with what they are doing, he cannot deal with them openly, and I hope that the Governor will understand. ”

"But master, I still don't understand." Dominime said, "Since Yulin Bay is your courtiers of the Ming Dynasty, then why can't your emperor dispose of them, isn't your emperor's power unlimited." ”

Tao Min silently organized the vocabulary in his heart: "Because of our culture." According to our oriental culture, Yulin Bay now stands on the moral high ground, and resisting the invasion of foreign enemies will always be righteous in our culture. Our emperor now has to fight on two sides, on the one hand, to deal with the Manchurians, and on the other hand, to deal with the rogues, which is very difficult. But our emperor could not openly propose to make peace with the Manchurians or the Liukou, and if that were the case, the government and the opposition would be shocked. So we hope that you can attack Yulin Bay in the South Seas, if you can inflict heavy damage on Yulin Bay, then our emperor will have a chance to deal with them, and you will also get more benefits. ”

"Respected master, you Oriental thinking is simply too complicated." Domini smiled, "But I'm interested in your last words, what good will we get?" ”

"First, you can go back to Taiwan. Of course, you are not only speaking of Portugal, but also of Spain, the Netherlands and England. We hope that you will deal with Yulin Bay as one. Second, you can get Japan, and our Ming Empire is not interested in Japan. Thirdly, we will open the entire Ming market, you can trade freely, and in the Ming Empire, you can buy everything you want. ”

Domini's eyes lit up: "Do you want to open the market of the entire Ming Empire?" Dear Master, is this your personal meaning or your Emperor's meaning. ”

"The Governor still can't trust the poor monk." Tao Min said with a smile, "The poor monk has already shown my emperor's decree and tokens to the governor, if the governor doesn't believe it, you can send someone to Beijing to ask our emperor." Of course, the magistrates of Guangdong did not know that the poor monks had come to meet with the governor this time, and they could not let them know. ”

Dominigo pondered in my heart for a moment: "Master, I need to know what good we will do in Portugal. ”

"You Portugal have the most benefits. In addition to the fact that you can enter the markets of Taiwan, Japan, and Daming with the Dutch and others, our emperor also allows you to find two places along the coast that you see fit, and lease them to you in the same way as Macao. Tao Min paused, "Of course, this is conditional, the Governor must ensure that we can unite the forces of your Westerners to defeat Yulin Bay, and our land will only be leased to those who can help us." ”

"In addition, the poor monk has to remind the Governor." Tao Min saw that Dominia did not speak and said, "The poor monk's visit to the Governor this time is secret, and all the agreements we have reached are verbal. If there is a leak, our emperor will not recognize the position of plenipotentiary of the poor monk. This is also our culture, and I ask for your understanding. ”

"I'll understand." Domini, I replied, "Just ask the Master to stay at the Doge's Palace for a few days, and I'll contact the others." ”

"I'm sorry, Lord Governor." Tao Min said, "The poor monk has other missions, so I can't stay here, but my representative will be here to discuss specific actions with the Governor." ”

Xu Lang and Xu Tianbin finally arrived in Datong at the end of February with the 5th Infantry Regiment, and the order from the joint command arrived two days before them.

"The family asked us to withdraw to Yulinbao and temporarily abandon Yanchang County?" Xu Lang couldn't figure out how he took the order Lin Zhaolong gave him, "Could it be that something happened at home again, why is this order different from when I left." ”

"I didn't understand why I gave up Yanchang County, what should I do if I gave up Yanchang County's Pearl number." Lin Zhaolong said, "But the order has the signatures of five people from the joint command, which cannot be wrong." ”

Xu Lang was still staring at the order in his hand: "According to the above statement, Bei Ming should have gone to Ningyuan to find Wu Sangui by now, and Ye Zhan still has a month to reach Datong." We will gather all our forces in April at the earliest, and by then Li Zicheng may have already conquered Xi'an. But when will Huang Taiji do it, and where will he choose to break the level? ”

Lin Zhaolong said with a smile: "This is your task as Chief of Staff Xu, and it is very important for us to judge the location of Huang Taiji's breakthrough." ”

"Nonsense." Xu Lang scolded with a smile, "You think I'm an immortal, I'll know it by pinching my fingers." Now that everything has changed, I'm not sure where Huang Taiji will come from. ”

"So what are we going to do?" Lin Zhaolong asked, "Is it just according to the order?" ”

"Don't worry about anything else." Xu Lang replied, "There will be a meeting tomorrow and we will first arrange the tasks for the near future." ”