Li Yan stayed in Qixian for five days, and then left Qixian to inspect other counties. During this time, he received news from Li Zhong that all the officials and gentry he had captured had been released, and they had also received 8,000 stone of grain. Although it is far from the goal of 50,000 stones, it has also collected some of it.

Those officials and gentry were waiting for the results of their operations, but it was not known that Huang De could not come, and Yang Wenyue's troops were stationed in Kaifeng because they had not received money and food supplies. And Fu Zonglong led the Shaanxi soldiers to chase Li Zicheng to Huguang, and Ding Qirui was stuck in the south of Henan, and their wishes seemed to be unable to be realized in the short term, so they were all like the Liu family, paying food and forgiving people.

In other counties, the resettlement of displaced people is progressing well, and although there are large households, they are not as concentrated as in the prefectures, so there is not much resistance to taxation. As long as the acres of land are checked, you can go directly to collect taxes when the time comes, and you don't have to be as troublesome as the gentry in the city.

Li Yan returned to Fucheng ten days later.

"The Liu family handed over the grain after you left," Li Zhong reported: "The other families also discussed with me a few days ago, and there are not many of them who have been arrested, so they can only ask for so much." ”

Li Yan nodded and said, "It's okay, it's not too little." ”

Li Zhong was relieved and suggested, "Is it possible to build a recruit training camp here?" Now there are more than 10,000 recruits, and Qixian can't put them there. When the recruits from Yucheng, Xiayi, and Yongcheng also come over, there will be no place. ”

Li Yan originally wanted to think about this matter after completely subduing those big officials and gentry, but now that the army is expanding too fast, it is necessary to have a new training camp. Moreover, since these gentry do not cooperate, they can also use these soldiers to deter them, so that they do not dare to make other dangerous moves.

So he nodded and said, "Yes, yes." Let the captives stop repairing the roads and build the training camp first. ”

After that, he told him about agreeing to sell grain to Kaifeng in Qi County, and instructed: "When you go back this time, you must arrange manpower to clean up the people who went to Kaifeng to sell grain, and ensure that all the grain is in our hands." Although I agreed that they would go out and sell grain, the official order had not yet been issued. I'll give you the order when you're ready. ”

"Isn't that right?" Li Zhong said hesitantly: "If it is discovered, won't it ruin our reputation?" ”

Li Yan thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Forget it, you don't have to worry about this matter." After you go back, you have to supervise and step up the training of recruits, and let Hao Shiren purchase more supplies in Zhuxian Town. Let him not press the goods, and notify you after the purchase, and you will send someone to transport the materials back as soon as possible. Especially copper, you need to prepare a lot. ”

"Okay." Li Zhong agreed. Although he saw the disappointment in Li Yan's eyes, he really couldn't make up his mind to let him do the thing of killing people and overselling goods.

Li Yan said: "Second brother, you can go back tomorrow, and manage the other counties well, so that there will be no problems." In particular, we should pay attention to the direction of Kaifeng to prevent Yang Wenyue or Chen Yongfu from coming to make trouble. ”

"Okay, I will send more scouts, and I will also let people collect news in Kaifeng City." Li Zhong immediately agreed.

After sending Li Zhong away, Li Yan called Sun Sifu and Zhang Yi and instructed: "You guys prepare and set off for Qi County the day after tomorrow." Pick up twenty pro-soldiers and intercept all the grain that sells grain to Kaifeng! Then it was transported to Kaifeng and handed over to the grain store in the house. ”

Zhang Yi simply agreed: "Yes." Because he knew that he was in charge of the connection with the Li family's grain store, and there was no difficulty.

Sun Sifu asked, "As long as the grain is enough?" ”

"We can't let anyone know that we did it. It is necessary to convince people that it is the thieves and bandits who steal the grain. Li Yan said lightly.

Sun Sifu nodded heavily, hugged his fists and said, "My subordinates know what to do." ”

"Remember, act outside of our territory, and don't let the people feel that our territory is not safe." Li Yan instructed.

"My subordinates understand."

Liaodong, Ningyuan.

Zhang Ruoqi came to Hong Chengchou's line and said, "Supervisor, you have also received His Majesty's secret decree, why are you still not moving?!" ”

At this time, Zhang Ruoqi's identity was not only a staff member of the Ministry of War, but also a part-time supervisor of the army. A few days ago, he showed Hong Chengchou Emperor Chongzhen's secret decree of "quickly trying to suppress the emperor and thwart the thief's atmosphere". Hong Chengchou did not raise any objections at that time, but he had no intention of moving troops north in the past few days, so he came to urge.

Hong Chengchou frowned and said, "This superintendent is preparing!" ”

"Prepare what?" Zhang Ruoqi asked: "All the soldiers and horses are not moving, and they have no intention of going to Jinzhou to relieve the siege. ”

"Ben Du is transporting grain and grass!" Although Hong Chengchou was very angry, he still explained: "Grain and grass must be transferred forward from here, otherwise Song, Xingxiaocheng, these more than 100,000 troops and horses, how many days can they hold out in front?" ”

"Grain and grass must be transported, but soldiers and horses must also move forward!" Zhang Ruoqi said toughly: "Your Majesty's will is to march into the army!" Now that the Central Plains are tired, there is no time to delay any longer! ”

Hong Chengchou gritted his teeth and endured his anger. But for the imperial court's supervisors, he didn't dare to harden it. So he nodded and said, "The governor knows." On the 26th, the governor swore an oath to go on the expedition. ”

"Okay, then the lower official will report the superintendent's plan to the capital." Zhang Ruoqi arched his hand and said.

Hong Chengchou reluctantly arched his hand and said: "Please rest assured that the superintendent will swear on time." ”

Zhang Ruoqi received a clear answer from Hong Chengchou and finally left satisfied.

Now not only Chen Xinjia, the secretary of the Ministry of War, is anxious to solve the problem of Liaodong, but even Emperor Chongzhen is also anxious. It is really a serious famine, as serious as thieves and bandits, and it is really not enough to collect much grain tax. Moreover, there is news that the combined forces of Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai intended to march towards Huguang Chengtianfu (Zhongxiang).

That is the dragon diving land of Emperor Jiajing, if it is breached, the impact will be no less than that of Fengyang, the central capital, and I am afraid that the morale of the people in the world will be dissipated at that time. Therefore, the imperial court mobilized troops to defend Chengtian Mansion, and Fu Zonglong also led troops to chase after him, all of which required food and salary.

Hong Chengchou sat down helplessly, he originally wanted to keep consuming it like this, just exaggerating the Qing court. However, the heavens did not fulfill people's wishes, and the imperial court, from the military department to the emperor, forced him to march as soon as possible, defeat the Qing soldiers, and relieve the siege of Jinzhou. But this battle is really not easy to fight! Of the eight chief officers, only three dare to fight, and he is not easy to do as a superintendent!

There is also a lot of shortage of grain and grass given by the imperial court, and their transportation capacity is limited, and the transfer of these days is only a month's worth of grain and grass for the army, even if it is added for a few days, it is only two months of grain and grass. For two months, he really didn't have the confidence to be able to break the siege successfully.

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