The 3,000 prisoners of war from Huguang had already completed the expansion of the official road from Ba County to Zunyi Prefecture, and with the concerted efforts of the 3,000 Han prisoners of war in Zunyi, the official road had been poured into a cement avenue.

The 3,000 local prisoners of war in Zunyi are pouring the official road from Zunyi to Linzhou and Yongning, and the prisoners of war from Huguang are extending along the official road to both sides, connecting the avenue with the various "li" along the line.

Li Zicheng met Huang Junhui, the 1,000th household official among the prisoners of war, in Qijiang County.

"The Grand Duke!" Huang Junhui bowed to the ground, he thought about it day and night, knowing that the one-year service period was coming to an end, and he was looking forward to Li Zicheng fulfilling his original promise.

Li Zicheng asked Huang Junhui to get up, and said with a smile: "How about it, along the official road, has the secondary avenue been completed?" He valued these prisoners of war very much, and in the land of Zunyi, the authentic Han people were too expensive.

"Back to the Metropolitan Governor, the official road leading to Geli is coming to an end, and it should be completed during the one-year service," Huang Junhui got up and bowed down in front of Li Zicheng, "It's just ...... It's just an official road to Jinju...... Now it's just widening the roadbed, I'm afraid it won't be able to complete ......"

"Do you mean that the road to Jinshu cannot be completed until the end of your servitude? How long will it take to complete this avenue? Li Zicheng knew that Zhenzhou was relatively remote, and in the northeast corner of Zunyi Prefecture, the population was not too large.

However, Zunyi Mansion has completed the sinicization, such a good opportunity, did you let go of Zhenzhou?

It doesn't matter if the population is not large, these prisoners of war, after the expiration of the labor period, can be resettled in Zhenzhou, so as to increase the local population and speed up the local sinicization.

"It will take about a month to return to the Metropolitan Governor......"

It's only been a month? Li Zicheng thought for a moment and said: "Within one month, if you complete this avenue, I will give each of you twenty-five acres of arable land, a young mother-in-law, and a remuneration, half a tael of silver per person, how about it?" ”

Huang Junhui was shocked in his heart, could it be that the Metropolitan Governor wanted to break the contract?

On the other hand, I think about it, these people are all prisoners of war, and even their lives are in the hands of the Grand Governor, and besides, there are good remuneration conditions, "The Grand Governor is saying that everyone can ...... They all have mothers-in-law, and land, silver, and ......."

"That's nature," Li Zicheng said with a smile: "Without silver, land, and mother-in-law, how can the strong men settle down in the local area?" With this month's time, the mothers-in-law in the later stage should also come over in time......"

The women that Li Zicheng prepared for these prisoners of war, in addition to the five hundred Mongolian women who were already in Zunyi Mansion, and the five or six hundred Mongolian women in the later period, the rest of the women could only be found from the displaced people in Shaanxi.

The women are almost ready, but they don't know the date for the completion of the road works, and some of them are still on the way, and it will take more than half a month to get over at the latest.

Huang Junhui was overjoyed, he was the official of the thousand households of these prisoners of war, and he naturally had to take care of all the prisoners of war in his heart, Huguang could not go back, the only way was to settle down in the local area, the land and the mother-in-law were all there, as long as they built a few thatched huts with their own hands, they would have a home again.

Although the period of labor has been increased by one month, these are the regulations of the Mandate of Heaven, and if the period stipulated by the Mandate of Heaven is two years, can they still resist?

As long as the Metropolitan Governor can keep his promise......

Although Li Zicheng used a consultative tone, the prisoners of war had no choice at all, and if they annoyed him, there might be no silver, land, or women......

Huang Jinhui took the prisoners of war to continue to build the road from the Sichuan-Guizhou Ancient Road to Zhenzhou, while Li Zicheng went south along the road, wanting to go to Zunyi Mansion to see, and when he arrived in Tongzi County, he received a message from Wang Anping from Chengdu:

At the end of July, Zhang Xianzhong set up an ambush in Luo Monkey Mountain, defeated the general soldier Zuo Liangyu, and the chief soldier Luo Dai was killed in battle...... Zhu Youzhen was furious and put the blame for Zhang Xianzhong's rebellion again on Xiong Wencan's head, and Xiong Wencan was arrested and imprisoned......

In August, Zhu Youzhen because of the beginning of the year of the Tartar clearance, the civil and military officials after the autumn settled, a number of officials were killed, including Baoding governor Zhang Qiping, Shuntian governor Chen Zubao, Shandong governor Yan Jizu, the number of military attachés is more, the general army level, there are Jizhen general soldiers Wu Guojun, Chen Guowei, aid to suppress the general army Zukuan, Li Chongzhen, Dezhou general military officer Ni Chong, in addition, there are ministers Deng Xizhao, Sun Maolin, etc., a total of 38 people, were beheaded and the city ......

After Xiong Wencan was arrested, Fu Zonglong, the secretary of the Ministry of War, recommended Fang Kongzhao, the governor of Huguang, to serve as the prime minister of the five provinces, and continued to exterminate the Liukou Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai.

Li Zicheng originally planned to stay in Zunyi Mansion for a month or two, and when the road was completed and the prisoners of war were settled, he thought that Yang Sichang had always been more hostile to the Liukou, maybe Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai would hide in the mountains, and he might not be able to attack the Heavenly Mandate Army in Sichuan at any time.

He hurried to Zunyi Mansion and met with the prefect Kong Lanchuan, planning to hand over the prisoner of war matter to Kong Lanchuan for disposal.

There are more than 6,000 prisoners of war in the southern part of Zunyi Prefecture and Chongqing Prefecture, and Li Zicheng has prepared land for them to resettle, among which about 3,000 are local prisoners of war in Zunyi.

Li Zicheng told Kong Lanchuan that as long as the official road between Zunyi and Yongning County in Luzhou was completed, they would be relieved and returned to the fields and become local Han people.

The 3,000 prisoners of war from Huguang were all alone, but Li Zicheng also planned for them, as long as the official road to Zhenzhou was completed, they would be given land and mother-in-law, and there would be no problem in starting a family, as long as they did it themselves and built houses.

Li Zicheng gave a clear account of the prisoners of war, and then left Zunyi, passed through Chengdu, and went to Hanzhong.

Li Guo got the information, personally greeted him out of the city, and after making a big salute, he said: "Dadu Governor, the Ming army in Shaanxi has not moved, we have concentrated two battalions of troops in Guguan, as well as the second battalion of his subordinates in Hanzhong, do you want to take the initiative to attack and take Xi'an?" ”

"Double Happiness hasn't fought during this time, is it itching again?" Li Zicheng laughed, "The main force of the Ming army is besieging Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai, the rogues in Huguang, we can take a breather for a while, don't worry, the battle still has to be fought, and the imperial court will not admit defeat to the Mandate of Heaven Governor's Mansion!" ”

The two of them were riding horses, almost side by side into the city, Li Guo introduced Li Zicheng into the camp, served the seat, and asked the soldiers to serve tea, and then whispered: "The governor of the capital, take advantage of the main force of the Ming army, deal with Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai in Huguang......"

Li Zicheng smiled faintly and said: "Shuangxi, do you know, why does the imperial court call Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai Liukou?" ”

"Rogues?" Li Guo thought for a moment, and only then did he understand a little, "Metropolitan Governor, once Zhang Xianzhong can't defeat them, they will flee into the mountains, and instead attract the Ming army?" ”

"It's not too confused," Li Zicheng picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and said, "This tea is good, and in this season, the fragrance doesn't seem to have faded......

"This ...... His subordinates didn't understand...... "Li Guo is a rough man, how can he keep tea, his mind is still on the battle, "Dadu Governor, if you confront the imperial court like this, from Longshan to the Yangtze River, the battle line is too long, I am afraid it will be unfavorable to the Heavenly Mandate Army......"

Li Zicheng nodded and said, "Shuangxi is right, if the confrontation continues like this, it will be extremely unfavorable to the Heavenly Mandate Army, but what about taking Xi'an, will the confrontation line be shortened?" Occupy Xi'an, the front line of the confrontation will be moved to the Yellow River, it is still very long, and today's Shaanxi, suffering from natural disasters, bandits, and soldiers, is not as good as the original Longyou, even if it becomes the territory of the Mandate of Heaven Army, it will only invest a lot of money and food! ”

The third battalion of Qin Danian, the first battalion of Liu Yunshui, and the sixth battalion of Ma Youshui were respectively condemned to death on the front line of Longshan, the second battalion of Li Guo and the seventh battalion of Song Wen were restricted to the upper reaches of the Han River, and the naval army of Zhou Kun's department could not advance or retreat on the front line of the Yangtze River......

Except for Ma Xianglin's eighth battalion, which will remain in southern Sichuan, even if the naturalization work of Jianchang Mansion is over, the only troops that can be mobilized in his hands are the fourth battalion of Li Jibu.

Unless there is a large-scale expansion of the army, once the imperial court conducts a large-scale westward expedition, it will be difficult for the Mandate of Heaven Army to reinforce and respond to each other.

Li Guo is also unable to lead the overall situation, and his vision is naturally not as good as Li Zicheng, "the governor of the capital......"

Li Zicheng narrowed his eyes and said lightly: "It is always in a confrontation situation with the army of the imperial court, which is extremely unfavorable to the Heavenly Mandate Army, and the territory of the Heavenly Mandate Army, except for Chengdu and Chongqing, are all border lands, and the output of the land is far less than the wealth of Jiangnan......"

Li Guo pondered for a moment and said, "Governor, we can't be passive forever......"

"How are Double Happiness going to get out of trouble?" Li Zicheng smiled faintly and put down the tea cup, but stared at Li Guo's eyes.

"According to the will of our subordinates, we should take the initiative to attack and block the Ming army from the defense area......"

Li Zicheng's heart moved, these days have not been seen, is it possible that Shuangxi's horizons have been broadened? He said with a smile: "To be specific, how to keep the enemy out? ”

"Dadu Governor ......" Li Guo may not have thought about it, hesitated for a while, and said: "Let the cavalry of the first and second battalions go out of the east of the defense line, rely on the speed advantage, and maneuver with the Ming army, and advance the battle line to Shaanxi, Huguang ......."

"Haha," Li Zicheng laughed, "The meaning of double happiness, I understand, the idea is good, but to realize, I'm afraid it's a little difficult, the cavalry is active in Shaanxi and Huguang, what about the grain and grass?" ”

Li Zicheng also smiled, although the Metropolitan Governor did not completely agree with his opinion, but agreed with his combat ideas, with the Metropolitan Governor's head, there must be a better strategy, "The Metropolitan Governor ......"

"Shuangxi's idea is good, as long as it is slightly changed," Li Zicheng said: "You don't need to be on the periphery of the defense area, and you don't need to use cavalry, as long as you send an army to the heart of the Ming Dynasty, the court will be shocked, and naturally there is no time to go west, and the territory of the Heavenly Mandate Army will be stable!" ”

"The Metropolitan Governor is going to send troops to Beijing?"

"It's too early to go to Beijing, if we send an army to Beijing to carry out activities, the court won't fight with us?" Li Zicheng shook his head gently, "The weakness of the imperial court is still in Henan, the land of the Central Plains, which is not only the core area, but also not near the center of Beijing......

"My subordinates understand," Li Guo's heart moved, and said: "Metropolitan Governor, the second battalion under his subordinates is all cavalry, and they act quickly, so let their subordinates go to Henan......

"No!" Li Zicheng categorically refused, "Henan is surrounded by Ming troops, or I will go in person!" ”