A few days later, Tian Jianxiu received news from Xi'an, and the negotiations could not proceed. Although he was very disappointed, he couldn't change everyone's decision, so he could only state it truthfully to Li Yan.

Li Yan sneered and said, "Since that's the case, then Brother Tian should please go back." ”

"Brother Li," Tian Jianxiu arched his hand and said, "Although we can't negotiate peace, don't start a war lightly." Although Brother Li is unparalleled in armor, after all, two fists are difficult to defeat four hands. We still value peace, what does Brother Li think? ”

Li Yan said with a smile: "Thank you Brother Tian for your concern." Since the peace talks cannot be reached, there will be no constraints, and no matter who we are, we can go to war at any time. Brother Tian, please go back, as for the route, I chose Brother Tian at the mouth of the well. ”

Tian Jianxiu was helpless, so he had to clench his fists: "Then thank you Brother Li, let's leave tomorrow." ”

After Tian Jianxiu left, Li Yan instructed Sun Sifu: "Inform me again, the pass channel where Li Chuang is in contact with him must be checked, and not a single grain of grain can be transported over." In particular, we must not let the potatoes pass, let alone the people who grow the potatoes. ”

"Yes."

Li Yan knew that Li Zicheng had begun to run out of food. Li Zicheng only occupied the area north of Huguang and the Yangtze River, so the grain output was not large. Although there are a lot of fields in the Guanzhong area, most of these original Qin Wang's fields have become the private property of the generals of the Dashun army, and naturally they can't collect a few stones of grain. The northwest region could not be counted on, not only did it not help, but the soldiers there were still waiting for him to bring the grain over.

Potatoes are now a big killer in his hands, and if Li Zicheng also solves the food problem, then he will set up a powerful enemy for himself. A Qing country has already restrained a lot of his energy, so the control of potatoes must be stricter than that of other grains.

Fortunately, Li Zicheng and they don't seem to be used to eating potatoes, and more than eighty percent of the grain smuggling reported this time is wheat and millet, and the rest are potatoes. He believes that this potato should not be used as a seed.

"Dashuai, Zhou Shixian has found it." Sun Sifu came in to report.

Li Yan asked, "Who is he?" What's the matter? ”

Sun Sifu explained: "He is the concubine that Emperor Chongzhen set for Princess Changping, and you asked him to find it." ”

Li Yan remembered after such a reminder. Princess Changping said that she didn't want to get married, but wanted to go south to Jinling. However, in order to show respect for the emperor and princess of the previous dynasty, he still asked people to find this quasi-concubine and let them discuss it on their own, and he did not get involved in this matter.

"I'm gone, let him wait." Li Yan instructed: "After Princess Changping is better, let them discuss it by themselves under the witness of those ministers." ”

Princess Changping may have been worried about the life and death of her younger brother, the former Ming Prince, and moved into the Shouning Palace, where she lived before, and remembered the bloody night when Li Zicheng entered the city, so she fell ill. In addition, he was cut off an arm, and his body was already weak, so he was bedridden all these days, so he naturally had to let Zhou Shixian wait.

"The subordinates know, so let's arrange it." Sun Sifu hugged his fists and agreed, and quickly went out again to make arrangements.

At this time, Ye Chen also returned to Shengjing with his troops.

He originally took this one to go first, and was going to find a place to wait for Jiang Xiang, after all, Jiang Xiang was the chief military officer, and he still had some influence in Datong Xuanfu, so he naturally couldn't give up at will. But he didn't wait for Jiang Xiang, but waited for Li Yan's pursuers. Before he could prepare to attack, he saw the cannons of the troops following behind. He didn't know how many Li Yan's troops still had, so he didn't dare to stay here for a long time, so he had to continue to retreat north with his troops.

This retreat is unstoppable. Li Yan's cavalry followed, and then Li Yan's artillery followed. They wanted to fight, but Li Yan's cavalry didn't give them a chance, and every time they ran back to join the artillery. However, the artillery and those cavalry were able to quickly form a phalanx every time, so that they could not speak, so they had to continue to retreat.

Two days later, they finally learned the news of Jiang Xiang's surrender to Li Yan, so they didn't dare to stay in Datong anymore, and chose the nearest pass to break through. Fortunately, it was Jiang Xiang's troops who guarded the pass, and they only paid a small number of casualties before going out.

The reason why he was able to return to Shengjing so quickly was because along the way, they all passed through the Mongol tribes quickly, and did not show off their might as usual, asking for supplies and other things. Because the news of their defeat in the pass was faster than the wind spread in the steppe, they could see that the eyes of the Mongols looked at them less in awe, but more banter, even provocation.

Zilharang asked sharply: "Entering the customs without authorization, losing troops and losing generals, are you guilty?!" ”

Ye Chen replied helplessly: "It was Jiang Xiang who sent someone to ask for surrender, so I brought someone to break through the border wall and help him resist Li Zicheng's attack." Originally, the front was very smooth, and we beat Li Zicheng's troops to the Yellow River, but for some reason, Li Yan's troops came from the east to flank the attack. ”

"Li Yan and Li Zicheng have formed an alliance?" Dai Shan asked with a frown.

Ye Chen replied uncertainly: "It's possible, otherwise how can you attack us on both sides?" ”

Azig said worriedly: "If Li Yan really stands with Li Zicheng, will they come to embarrass our Qing Dynasty?" ”

"Impossible." Duoduo said with certainty: "Li Zicheng is the emperor of Dashun, and Li Yan has never been defeated in the battle with Li Zicheng, but Li Yan is not prepared to build a country. Could it be that Li Yan will be subservient to Li Zicheng? ”

"Then how could Li Yan save Li Zicheng's troops? If it weren't for Li Yan's troubles, Li Zicheng's troops would have suffered heavy losses. Hauge finally dared to speak, and his defeat at Shanhaiguan also made him dare not laugh at Dolgon anymore. But now that Duoduo's words obviously don't make sense, he naturally doesn't want to let go of any opportunity to blow the two white flags.

Duoduo said disdainfully: "These are not important, even if Li Yan and Li Zicheng cooperate temporarily, they will fight again sooner or later." The top priority now is to deter the Mongol tribes and prevent them from being separated from our Qing Dynasty. ”

"An alliance with the Mongol tribes?" Zilharang asked.

Duoduo nodded, and said in a contemptuous manner: "Let all the tribes of Monan Mongolia come, and the time should be set tighter." If any of them don't come, they will use this as an excuse to ask for it. Although our Qing Dynasty was defeated by Li Yan several times, it was still easy to deal with the Mongols. While stabilizing the Mongol tribes, it was necessary to step up the production of cannons, as well as firearms, trebuchets and flowering shells. As long as we have the same weapon as Li Yan, then defeating Li Yan is also nine out of ten! ”

"It's a bit inappropriate to blindly use force, right?" Dai Shan disagreed.

Azig immediately stepped up: "If you don't do this, what else can you do?" Do you want to fight Li Yan again? I won't fight Li Yan until better artillery and trebuchets are built. ”

Zilharang waited for a while, and saw that everyone had no other suggestions, so he had to agree: "Okay, then let's discuss the specific time." ”

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