Emperor Chongzhen was extremely angry when he learned that Zuo Liangyu was defeated and Luo Dai died. It was immediately announced that Prime Minister Xiong Wencan and Henan General Zhang Renxue would be dismissed, while Zuo Liangyu, who had been defeated, was demoted to three levels and retained. And let the governors and prime ministers everywhere perform their duties, and they must exterminate the thieves before December! Once postponed, the crime will be punished in one piece! It can also be seen that Chongzhen is still relatively tolerant of military generals, which also shows that the Ming Dynasty's control over the army is no longer strong.

And that Henan general soldier Zhang Renxue is actually not a general. This Zhang Renxue turned out to be a civil official, but he couldn't get used to the procrastination and prevarication of military generals, as long as the military salary did not do things, he was very angry, so he wrote to the emperor, he wanted to change his military position and be a military general and lead the troops by himself.

Chongzhen really agreed, but the ministers disagreed, saying that there was no precedent for converting civilian to military positions. It was Chongzhen who insisted that Zhang Renxue was appointed as the chief soldier of Henan, who had no chief military officer. However, Zhang Renxue had no troops, so he transferred the deputy general Luo Dai to him to command. So now Zhang Renxue, the chief military officer who has been transferred from a civilian official, is alone again, so the court said that he could be dismissed. And the happiest were those Wenchen, and they all happily said to each other: "Look, Lao Zhang has finally been arrested!" ”

Now the new secretary of the Ministry of War, Fu Zonglong, has also come to Beijing, so Yang Sichang wrote to ask for guilt after handing over to Fu Zonglong.

In fact, as early as after the Qing soldiers entered the army, the impeachment of Yang Sichang by the imperial history was not broken, but they were all left by Chongzhen. Even those who were impeached in the face were blocked by Chongzhen. Now it's different, it's Xiong Wencan, who was recommended by Yang Sichang, has a problem, which is a proper joint and several responsibility, so the imperial historians have increased their attacks.

Chongzhen's reply to Yang Sichang's plea is "return to the cabinet", which means that even if this matter is over, Yang Sichang will not be disposed of.

Yang Sichang had a bottom in his heart, so according to the usual practice, he wrote again two days later to impeach himself. But something went wrong, and Emperor Chongzhen actually gave instructions this time, asking Yang Sichang to take over Xiong Wencan's task and the prime minister's suppression of thieves.

This surprised Yang Sichang, but his self-impeachment chapter did not mention that he wanted to be the governor of Beijing. But the emperor's will had already been made, and he couldn't refuse, so he had to prepare to go to the post.

Forbidden City, Wenhua Palace.

"Mr. Yang," Chongzhen specially summoned Yang Sichang and said, "This time, Mr. went to supervise the teacher, because he wanted to use Mr.'s talent in warp and weft, in order to completely eliminate the trouble of thieves." ”

Yang Sichang bowed and said: "The minister must do his best to exterminate the thieves, so that my Ming Dynasty will no longer be trapped by enemies inside and outside, and I can have time to recuperate, so that I can concentrate on guarding against the East Captives." ”

"That's right! That's what it means! Chongzhen smiled and said: "This is exactly what Mr. He's idea of 'going outside must first be inside'." Over the years, the eastern captives have repeatedly entered the prison, and there are thieves in the rebellion, and the court has been attacked on both sides, and the left and right are trapped. Now that the Dongyu has retreated, Jiliao has Hong Chengchou Supervisor, and the atmosphere on the side is a little slow, which is a good time to extinguish the thieves. Therefore, I hope that Mr. can display his talents, plan well, and repay his success. ”

"Obey." Yang Sichang bowed down to receive the order.

Chongzhen said again: "Also, this time Mr. went to supervise the teacher, and he still had to suppress and use it. There are many thieves, and if they insist on suppressing them, they will probably delay their time and not be conducive to the people's recuperation. Therefore, it is necessary to exterminate the big thief, deter the enemy's courage, and the rest of the night is small, and it is advisable to appease it. If there are a few more loyal people like Liu Guoneng to fill the official army and use it to suppress thieves and captives, it is really a great luck. ”

Yang Sichang replied: "Your Majesty is kind-hearted, loves the people like a son, and the ministers admire him. The ministers should calm the demonic atmosphere, help His Majesty to prosper the Ming Dynasty, and open the peace of the world for all eternity. ”

"With the help of Mr. I, it is the blessing of the two ancestors. Please Sir plan carefully, cut off the thieves in one fell swoop, and relieve the people from hanging upside down. Chongzhen said happily. This Manchu courtier, Yang Sichang can give him a solid job, and the others are either party disputes or mediocre actions. If it weren't for the fact that this was a good time to exterminate the thieves, he would not have suddenly changed his mind and let a capable minister like Yang Sichang go out of Beijing to supervise the teacher.

"The ministers obey the holy commandment." Yang Sichang bowed down to receive the order.

Chongzhen continued: "This time Mr. Xuan came, there is another important thing to tell Mr. Xuan. ”

"Listen to the oracle."

Chongzhen put away his smile and said solemnly: "Although this time the bandits are suppressed and appeased, and other thieves can be appeased, but only Zhang Thief's loyalty cannot be pardoned!" He disturbed the imperial mausoleum of Zhongdu, and there was no reason for forgiveness! ”

This is not because Zhang Xianzhong disturbed the ancestral tomb, if this is really the case, then why was Zhang Xianzhong's surrender accepted when he was in Gucheng last year? When Zhang Xianzhong excavated the ancestral tomb of Zhongdu, it was the eighth year of Chongzhen. The reason for not forgiving Zhang Xianzhong was that Zhang Xianzhong rebelled again and failed the emperor's kindness. Let the already relatively calm situation of thieves rekindle, and there is a great tendency to burn the prairies. This is what makes Chongzhen so angry.

"The ministers obey the order, the thief is loyal, and he only suppresses it." Yang Sichang repeated solemnly.

After Emperor Chongzhen finished this matter, he finally stopped being so serious, and he said slowly: "Auxiliary ministers and supervisors, things don't happen often, I specially wrote a few words to give to Mr. As he spoke, he asked the eunuch to take out the autograph poem he wrote: "Yanmei is now a dry city for the time being, and the general is majestic and the fine willow camp." Sweep away the atmosphere of Kou from now on, and return the period of education and people's livelihood. ”

Yang Sichang excitedly took the poems written on the yellow silk, and said in a trembling voice: "The minister must exterminate the thieves as soon as possible to repay His Majesty's trust!" Then he respectfully withdrew.

Emperor Chongzhen has been in Wenhua Hall for a long time, and he is also in the excitement. He seemed to have seen the scene of Yang Sichang exterminating Zhang Xianzhong and other thieves and returning triumphantly. He seemed to have seen the appearance of Da Ming in his hands. He laughed silently.

Yang Sichang was really excited, after he arrived in Xiangyang, he erected the banner of "General Yanmei" in Xingyuan, which are two words taken from this poem. Moreover, his direct pacesetters are also called "generals' battalions".

Moreover, Chongzhen still attaches great importance to Yang Sichang, and awarded Yang Sichang the official title of Rite Department and Military Department, and Dongge University Scholar as a supervisor. Abbreviated as the Governor's Cabinet Department, or the Cabinet Department. Therefore, the lower officials all respectfully called Yang Sichang as the Yang Pavilion Department. Of course, Shang Fang's sword must be had, and this has become the standard configuration of almost every superintendent, in order to allow the superintendent's ministers to deter those arrogant and difficult generals.

After some preparations, Yang Sichang left Beijing on the sixth day of the ninth month of the twelfth year of Chongzhen and went to Xiangyang to take over Xiong Wencan's position, and generally control the encirclement and suppression of the thief team led by Zhang Xianzhong. The prime minister Xiong Wencan, who has been dismissed, as well as the eunuch Liu Yuanbin, the chief soldier Zuo Liangyu and Chen Hongfan and others are also waiting for him in Xiangyang, and several people discuss the suppression of the thieves.