Kaifeng, the main hall of the palace.

The people were deliberating on the issue of rations. There were not only Li Yan and Chen Yongfu present, but also Hou Sui and Sun Chuanting, as well as Gao Jie, Niu Chenghu, Liu Zeqing and other chief military officers brought by them.

Under the repeated strict urging of Chongzhen, and after sending Yushi to act as a supervisor, Sun Chuanting had to gather the trilateral army out of Tongguan to meet in Kaifeng and work with Hou Sui to exterminate the thieves in Henan. Although Hou Sui knew that he could not command Zuo Liangyu, he did not dare to stay in Hebei anymore, so he had to cross the Yellow River with Liu Zeqing's troops and came to Kaifeng.

When Sun Chuanting and Hou Sui came, they both got a little money from Chongzhen, Sun Chuanting was 50,000 taels, and Hou Sui was 30,000 taels. This is the small amount of silver that Chongzhen can make up, but it is barely enough for the opening fee. As for the grain, it was all pushed to Henan to solve the problem.

"Lord Wang, Governor Gao, please prepare a month's rice grain for my trilateral soldiers first," Sun Chuanting said loudly with a straight face. Although his ears are not completely deaf, there is something wrong with him, so he always speaks loudly, as if he is angry with someone.

Gao Mingheng clenched his fists helplessly and said: "Governor Sun, it's not that the subordinate officials are not dedicated, but they are really powerless." From the twelfth year onwards, there were successive droughts, and then there were thieves and thieves. The people either fled or became thieves, where could they still collect the grain tax? Moreover, Kaifeng has just been besieged by thieves, and the people in the city are about to starve to death, where is there any surplus food for the soldiers of the army. ”

"This is Your Majesty's will!" Sun Chuanting still said loudly: "Without food, how can the troops fight?" ”

Gao Mingheng said: "Since Governor Sun is so insistent, then we will squeeze out half a month's food for the army, which is the rations of the soldiers and people in the city." With this grain, how about asking the prime minister and the governor to immediately lead troops south to suppress the thieves, because the grain is for the enemy, how about it? ”

"Ridiculous!" Sun Chuanting scolded: "The thieves are not bandits, and the thieves are powerful, there are millions of people, and now there are thieves such as Gezuo to help in the war, how can our army be able to defeat the enemy because of food?!" ”

"But these tens of thousands of troops, Kaifeng can't support them for a long time." Gao Mingheng said aggrievedly: "Most of the thieves are in Runing at this time, if you wait for the thieves to leave, you don't know when the thieves will be exterminated." Moreover, the whole of Henan has been looted by thieves, and now they have the most grain and silver. ”

"That's not true." Hou Sui suddenly spoke: "This official is a person from the Guide Mansion, so he naturally knows the details. The Guide Mansion was ripe last year, and it was rarely attacked by thieves, so there should be no problem in supplying the army's food and salary. ”

At this time, all the civil officials looked at Li Yan, and no one answered this question.

Hou Sui was a little disappointed, he originally wanted to let the officials in Kaifeng know the situation of Guide Mansion. But looking at the reaction of the officials now, they seem to have acquiesced to Li Yan's control of the Guide Mansion.

Sun Chuanting glanced at Li Yan, and then asked Gao Mingheng, "Governor Gao, is what Premier Hou said serious?" ”

"This, I'm afraid I want to ask General Li, he is more familiar with Guide Mansion." Gao Mingheng kicked the ball directly to Li Yan.

Li Yan arched his hand and said: "Your Excellency also knows that when Kaifeng was just lifted from the siege, it was the Guide Mansion that brought 80,000 stone of grain to Kaifeng, and now the Guide Mansion has no surplus grain. If Premier Hou and Governor Sun really wanted to let the Guide Mansion provide grain, they could only borrow grain from the gentry. He bowed his hand to Hou Sui and said, "I don't know how much Premier Hou's family can produce?" The Hou Mansion belongs to the Dewang clan, the gentry set an example, and how much food can be raised depends on the Prime Minister's heart to serve the country. ”

Hou Sui was stunned for a moment, isn't this his army? But he really can't express his position, if he talks too much, it will be difficult for other people to see each other. If you don't say much, this will rise to the height of loyalty to the court and the emperor, and he is a criminal minister, but he can't make mistakes again.

He squeaked: "This, this official just went home to keep filial piety for his father, and he didn't know much about the things next to him, and it was all hearsay." As for the issue of donating food, it should be left to the housekeeper's uncle. ”

Sun Chuanting snorted coldly, but he didn't dismantle Hou Sui's platform. However, this reminded him that since the military tun in Shaanxi had been embezzled by those officials and gentry, it was better to ask them for food. As for this Li Yan, there are already some signs that the tail will not fall, but now is not the time to say this, so he has to keep silent.

The civil officials in Kaifeng were envious in their hearts, in the end, they were the honored guests of the palace, and they dared to speak, and they directly choked the prime minister. Gao Jie and other Shaanxi chief military officers present also admired Li Yan very much, and felt that Li Yan was tough, and no one needed to buy face. Only Liu Ze was breezy and disapproving. Li Yan can only control the Guide Mansion, and he can control most of Shandong.

King Zhou finally spoke, and said, "Let's stop here today, you have been tired all the way, have a good rest, and discuss it tomorrow." However, Your Majesty's intention is to quickly exterminate the thieves and stabilize the Central Plains, so you must work together to serve the imperial court. ”

"Obey the Prince's Church." Everyone saluted King Zhou with their fists, and then they all withdrew.

King Zhou asked Li Yan to be called back and taught him a lesson: "You are too sharp today!" After all, it is a minister of the court, and there must be a respect! ”

"The last general, Meng Lang." Li Yan lowered his posture and said that he knew his mistake.

King Zhou comforted again: "But you are my son-in-law and a member of the clan, so naturally you don't have to worry about what will happen to them." ”

"Thank you for your protection."

"What do you think of this attack?" King Zhou finally got to the point.

Li Yan analyzed: "This time, Governor Sun led 40,000 troops, and Premier Hou led 13,000 troops, but there were only more than 50,000 troops. Although the generals on the three sides may be stronger, Governor Sun has just arrived in office, and he has captured and killed He Renlong, it is difficult to say whether the generals are returning to their hearts now. Looking at the thieves again, they were able to defeat the imperial court's more than 100,000 troops in one fell swoop in Zhuxian Town, and now they have the five battalions of the left to help in the battle, and their strength has increased greatly. So this time there is still no hope. ”、

"What if you and Chen Yongfu are added?" King Zhou asked. He most wanted to exterminate the thieves as soon as possible, and he didn't want to live this kind of frightened life again.

Li Yan said bluntly: "That Kaifeng must not be guaranteed." ”

"What do you mean by that?" King Zhou frowned and asked.

Li Yan explained: "The thieves are known as millions, and there should be 200,000 warriors among them. Combined with the five battalions of the left of the Revolution, it may reach 300,000 people. They can use most of the generals and displaced people to besiege us and others, and send another force to capture Kaifeng. Without the guards of the last general, as long as the thieves have 30,000 elite soldiers, Kaifeng will not be able to hold out for ten days. ”

King Zhou gritted his teeth, although disappointed, he knew that what Li Yan said was reasonable. I had to say: "Since this is the case, you can stay in Kaifeng with peace of mind." As for Hou Sui and Sun Chuanting, it depends on their creation. ”

Li Yan thought in his heart, feeling that it would be of no benefit to him to let the official army be wiped out. So he proposed: "The prince can give them some tips, so that they can keep some officials and soldiers for the imperial court, and if Kaifeng is in danger in the future, someone can come to the rescue." ”

"What is said is very true, or the virtuous son-in-law is insightful, not bad, not bad." King Zhou laughed, not thinking at all that this was a matter of disobedience to the emperor's will.

...

...