In the next three days, the capital was full of plain water. The officials had to mourn Chongzhen, while the people were spontaneous. Although natural disasters have continued in recent years, the capital is still peaceful, at least the food supply is sufficient, and there is no rice and thousands of dollars like other places.

Especially after experiencing the rule of the two new forces of Li Zicheng and the Qing army, the people of the capital have suffered some losses and injuries to a greater or lesser extent. With the contrast, it is natural that I miss it more and more. As for Li Yan now, they didn't feel any danger for the time being, but they didn't welcome it, but just watched from the sidelines.

Li Yan also mourned Emperor Chongzhen and kept a vigilance, and it was carried out in accordance with the etiquette of his sons and nephews. After all, Chongzhen and King Zhou are equals, and it is normal for him, the guest of honor of King Zhou's mansion, to follow the etiquette of his nephew.

At this time, as soon as Li Zicheng returned to Xi'an, he received the news of Jiang Xiang's rebellion, and Jiang Xiang also set up a Ming Dynasty clan as the emperor. Not only did the Ming Dynasty in Datong rebel, but also the gentry in Taiyuan also moved.

Shanxi is full of wealthy merchants, and there are no longer a few scholars and officials, so Li Zicheng's troops are particularly fierce in Shanxi, and they want to get more money. Therefore, Shanxi's resistance was the most fierce. As soon as he led people to retreat into Shanxi, Yuci and Taigu dared to let him eat behind closed doors.

Of course, his troops may not be able to defeat the Qing army and Li Yan's troops, but they still don't pay attention to these villagers. Soon broke into the city, took the rebellious squires to the law, and took away those who did not rebel, and brought them to Shaanxi to see. This is also the reason why he is reluctant to stay in Shanxi, the ruling foundation is too poor.

Li Zicheng was furious after receiving the news: "Zhang Tianlin is a waste!" Let him guard Datong, but he only knows pleasure! You are the same one by one, you just entered Beijing City, and you think the world is in your hands?! ”

And they did not speak. It was Li Zicheng who proposed not to pay for food, and it was not bad, and the troops under their command were not heavenly soldiers and generals, and they did not eat the fireworks of the world, so they also had to eat, drink, and feed their families. The common people did not have to pay taxes for grain, so they could only get it from the gentry, and then they could pay for the soldiers. Besides, I used to be poor and lived a hard life, but your brother became the emperor, and we are all Hou Bo, can't we enjoy it? Otherwise, what's the point of rebellion?

Li Zicheng saw that everyone didn't squeak, so he ordered: "Notify down, and all places will stop roasting and looting!" Don't do that again! If we continue to do this, there will be no place to settle down. ”

"What about the salary?" Liu Zongmin immediately asked.

Li Zicheng said dissatisfiedly: "Pay grain and tax." ”

"Same as Li Yan? How much land collects a percentage of the tax? Tian Jianxiu asked.

Liu Fangliang said: "This is not good, how many can there be?" How do we raise an army of millions? ”

"If it's apportioned, what's the difference between it and Ming Ting?" Tian Jianxiu choked.

Liu Fangliang confronted each other: "No matter what difference he has, the problem now is to have enough food and salary to stabilize the situation first." Otherwise, there will be chaos everywhere. ”

Li Guo said: "I think it's better to move those heroes to Xi'an, not only can we get their money into our hands, but they also have no foundation, so they can't mess up." ”

Li Zicheng finally nodded: "Well, this method is good." and those clans, which have also been resolved. These people have become the banners of those former Ming people. If these people are gone, the world will be peaceful. ”

Liu Zongmin reminded: "We have the three largest clans here. ”

Li Zicheng then remembered that he had brought back Chongzhen's three sons. Originally, in order to win the hearts of the officials in the capital, he also generously changed the title of Prince Ming to King of Song, and the other two titles did not change, and he promised to raise him like his own son. But now, they have become the lords of hope of the world.

He said viciously: "Kill! Tell Ma Chongxi to execute all the Jin clan in Shanxi and guard Taiyuan. It's the same here in Shaanxi, and the Qin clan will also be disposed of! Cut off all the roots of the Ming Court! As for Datong, after a month, the army will be rectified here, and Jiang Xiang will naturally go over to clean up, so he won't have to worry about it there. ”

Tian Jianxiu said at this time: "The northwest is not very peaceful, not only those officials and gentry and generals are a little unstable, but those Tusi are also unruly and untamable. If we reduce our troops on the ground too much, we may rebel immediately. ”

Liu Zongmin frowned: "Look ahead!" In the remote northwest of the country, it is not a pity to lose it. Shanxi is a sea of gold and silver, but it is a huge loss. ”

"The northwest is remote, but the people there are fierce, and once there is chaos, it can sweep the east in an instant! When the time comes, don't say it's Shanxi, even our hometown in Shaanxi will suffer from poison! Tian Jianxiu went straight back.

Li Zicheng hesitated for a while before saying, "Then take some of it back from Huguang." Let Yigong lead the team back, leaving Baiwang to preside over Huguang affairs, mainly to collect grain. When they came back this time, even the tens of millions of gold and silver they got from Beijing City were robbed by the Qing soldiers, and Huguang had to transport more grain back. In other places, the main things were to be collected, iron, carved feathers, bowstrings, brimstone, saltpeter, charcoal, cotton, cotton, and saddles. The Qing army has strong combat strength, and it cannot be dealt with without large forces. This time, he has to mobilize a large army and crush it all the way, I see how much ability he still has in the Qing army! ”

"In this case, it is enough to gather 300,000 elite troops." Tian Jianxiu suggested: "Is it not to transfer all of Hanzhong and part of Shangluo's troops?" To deal with the Qing army, it is useless to use those soldiers who have surrendered, and we have to use our elite soldiers. ”

Li Zicheng nodded in agreement: "Well, transfer He Zhen and them back." Li Yan now occupies Shandong, and he should not come to us for trouble in the short term. As for Sichuan, he was there and couldn't run away. When we pack up the Qing army, taking Sichuan is just a matter of probing for things. ”

"Shi Jincai!" Liu Zongmin suddenly asked, "How many infantry have you trained?" ”

Shi Jincai hurriedly stood up and replied with insufficient confidence: "Back to Ruhou, I have trained 20,000 elite foot soldiers. There are 10,000 more in training. ”

"Why so little?" Li Zicheng asked dissatisfiedly: "When I left, you said that you could train 100,000 elite soldiers within half a year!" ”

Shi Jincai defended: "Back to His Majesty the Emperor, there is not enough food at the beginning of spring, and it is not appropriate to train too many soldiers, and it can only be practiced once every three or four days, so the training progress has been delayed a lot. Now Xia Liang will be able to escort him to Beijing soon, as long as there is enough food and silver, he will be guaranteed to train 70,000 elite soldiers in three months. ”

It's both food and salary, and Li Zicheng is also having a headache for this. So he waved his hand: "Well, I know, you continue to train, and the food and salary will be approved as appropriate." ”

Shi Jincai finally relaxed, that is to say, how many elite soldiers are trained has little to do with him. He clenched his fists and said, "Yes!" The lowly duty must go all out. ”

...