Beijing, Forbidden City, Middle Left Gate. し。

Feng Yuanbiao, the secretary of the military department, was carefully served by the little eunuchs in the outer hall and took off his robes, and the eunuchs looked at the old body one step after another, to see if there were bloody bumps in the armpits, legs, and neck.

From February onwards, the plague began to break out of the city, and this pimple began on the body, and then it was out of control, and countless people died. Although the epidemic began to subside after July, they did not dare to take it lightly. Not only for the emperor's safety, but also for their own lives.

This epidemic is so terrible that you will die within three or five days of the onset of the disease. And the death was extremely sudden, some officials served tea to the guests, and then fell down and died. Someone who made an arch also fell headlong and died. And it is very contagious, and there are not a few families in the capital who die. Therefore, although they did not dare to approach Feng Yuanbiao, they checked it very carefully, and they were afraid that the officials they met had an epidemic.

Feng Yuanbiao was finally inspected before being taken into the main hall. In normal times, if any eunuch dared to make the officials undress, they would directly beat these insulting Sven eunuchs to death. Even if it is the emperor's order, they will still resolutely oppose it. But now it can't be done, they also want to let the people close themselves inside and outside in their own homes, after all, this epidemic medicine stone is ineffective, and if you are not careful, you can only go to see the king of Hades.

Chongzhen saw Feng Yuanbiao and first asked, "Feng Qing, what's the shape of the plague in the outside world?"

"The epidemic has been greatly reduced, and after His Majesty handed out the money, the unclaimed dead bodies in the city have been buried outside the city by the patrol soldiers." Feng Yuanbiao replied.

After that, he asked the main question: "I got a secret report that the thief general Li Yan is going to rebel, what is Feng Qing's countermeasure?"

Feng Yuanbiao was a little surprised, and asked, "But Zhou Fan Yibin"

"Exactly."

"He is a relative of the emperor, why do you want to rebel" Feng Yuanbiao frowned and said: "Is Your Majesty's news true Now Li Zicheng is based on Chu, Zhang Xianzhong is attacking Hunan, Zuo Liangyu is lacking salary, and he wants to eat Nanjing." The group of thieves in Nanzhili rose together, echoing the two thieves who broke and sacrificed, and Henan was relatively quiet. Why did Li Yan suddenly rebel?"

Chongzhen said helplessly: "It is reported that he intercepted the Lu rice of the sect. The taxes of the imperial court were not relieved of the capital at all, and even the rice given to the clan was taken. The clansmen went to him to ask for it, and he said it himself. ”

Feng Yuanbiao arched his hand and said, "Your Majesty, in this extraordinary period, you still have to be cautious." The soldiers and horses in the border towns have been irremediable, otherwise not only will they not be able to resist the Qing army, but the Mongolian tribes outside the border wall will be able to come to Gyeonggi to graze horses. Mainland generals, Zuo Liangyukong has hundreds of thousands of troops, but he is afraid of thieves like tigers and flees from battle. Huang Degong and Liu Liangzuo also had to guard against Nanzhi, and they were powerless to go to him. Li Yan has tens of thousands of tigers and wolves, and he has not been defeated against the two thieves, how can His Majesty push such a clan member out."

Chongzhen frowned and said, "I naturally know this. But the words of rebellion were spoken by him himself. Moreover, it is true that he changed the military system without authorization and withheld taxes. If he crosses the river and approaches Jingshi, he must always be on guard. ”

"Your Majesty is overwhelmed." Feng Yuanbiao said: "Changing the military system and cutting off taxes are all trivial matters. What the imperial court needs now is to be able to quell the thieves as soon as possible and resume production. Li Yan is the guest of honor of the Zhou Domain, and he can use the Lu rice of the Zhou Mansion Sect as military funds, which is not a rebellion, but a loyal act. ”

Feng Yuanbiao coughed twice, and then continued: "The world is a clan, not to mention 100,000 people who have Milu, and the imperial court has long been unable to afford it. And the pro-vassal does not have the role of vassalizing the world, starting from King Fu, there are more than ten pro-vassal domains, and none of them are willing to pay salaries, and the millions of money valleys are all the enemy. Li Yan's move is a good start for the imperial court. If it is cited as an example, the imperial court will be able to save half of the taxes in the future, recruit soldiers, and resume production, which is more than enough. ”

Chongzhen was silent. The courtiers can say these words, but he, the emperor, can't even think about it. In the first two years, he wanted the courtiers to donate money and salary, but at most he only hit the idea on the relatives, but he didn't dare to think about stopping the payment of the clans and clans in various places. Those were all royalty, and they were all his uncles and brothers. Although it is necessary to prevent these relatives from seizing the throne, they must not be treated harshly, otherwise it will violate the way of filial piety and will be despised by thousands of people.

At this time, Wang Chengen came in with a piece of music and handed it to Chongzhen.

Chongzhen, on the other hand, was very dissatisfied and scolded: "There are no rules for putting it down." ”

Wang Chengen said in a low voice: "Emperor, the matter is urgent, Sun Chuanting's division has collapsed in Xiangyang. ”

Chongzhen snatched the piece and opened it for a quick browsing. The more he looked at it, the more angry he became, he threw the song on the dragon case, and scolded loudly: "How can this be reasonable, how can it be that hundreds of thousands of troops will collapse in an instant, and they will repay me for their success before." Saying that thieves are famous and fearless is all nonsense to deceive."

Feng Yuanbiao sighed helplessly, he had also disapproved of Sun Chuanting's hasty expedition before. However, the ministers invited the emperor, and the emperor also wanted to pacify the thieves as soon as possible, but he was powerless to stop them after all.

"Your Majesty," Feng Yuanbiao reminded, "Is this news reliable, and the Ministry of War has not received any critical news. ”

Chongzhen finally calmed down, and said in a depressed mood: "This is Li Yan's supervising army Niu Wenbing's secret performance, and Henan has already been defeated by officers and soldiers. hated that Li Yan, who did not send troops to rescue at the first time, resulting in the defeat of the 100,000 army of the imperial court. I will punish him."

Feng Yuanbiao said: "Your Majesty, can you allow the minister to take a look at the secret report?"

As soon as Chongzhen signaled, Wang Chengen showed Feng Yuanbiao the chapter.

After Feng Yuanbiao read it, he immediately suggested: "Your Majesty, you can't be rash now." The newspaper said that the thieves pursued the officers and soldiers, and it seemed that they were trying to enter Shaanxi. If Li Yan is punished at this time, then Henan will definitely not abide by it. The thieves went down to Shaanxi and got Henan, if they came to attack the capital by two roads, it would be out of control at that time. As long as Li Yan is still in Henan, the thieves will not dare to enter the capital easily, Your Majesty must think twice. ”

Chongzhen asked angrily: "Then what should I do, do I still have to give him an official and become a knight, and I still have the Eastern Soldiers, and the Beijing Camp?"

Feng Yuanbiao reminded: "Wu Sangui is still unable to guard against the Qing soldiers, where can he move lightly." The Beijing camp was invaded by the plague, leaving only more than forty percent, and it was not enough to garrison the Beijing division, where could it be transferred to the thief King Zhou was the most loyal, and only the king of Zhou was the only one among the relatives who spared money and food to help guard Kaifeng City. If Li Yan rebelled, would King Zhou have no news at all, Your Majesty should not be a cronie of the servants, and don't cause a big disaster. ”

After listening to Feng Yuanbiao's words, Chongzhen thought of King Zhou's actions, and first nodded in approval, but in an instant, his face became gloomy. Li Yan is the son-in-law of King Zhou, and now he has soldiers and salaries, and if King Zhou has the intention of seizing the throne, it is not impossible. However, he knew that what Feng Yuanbiao said was right, he couldn't act in a hurry.

He instructed: "Give Sun Chuanting an order, let him reorganize his troops and horses, guard Shaanxi thoroughly, and make meritorious contributions." If Shaanxi is wrong, I will be punished for several crimes."

"Your Majesty, Sun Chuanting is also in the rout." Wang Chengen reminded.

Chongzhen said impatiently: "He is the commander of the first army, and there are elite guards around him, so naturally there will be nothing to do quickly."

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