On August 25, three days after Sun Chuanting's defeat, Li Yan received the news. Three days ago, on the day of Sun Chuanting's defeat, he received the news that Sun Chuanting was besieged.

Niu Chenghu's defeated army ran to Henan and told Li Zhong the news of the sudden attack of the thieves, and Li Zhong sent a pigeon letter to Li Yan. Li Yan's reply to Li Zhong was just eight words: strictly guard the border and wait and see what happens.

In fact, when Sun Chuanting first arrived in Nanyang, Li Yan explained that as long as he was outside of Henan, he didn't care about anything. If the thieves violate the border, then resolutely fight back. However, this time Li Zicheng's troops were very measured, and they stopped the pursuit five miles away from the Henan border, allowing those defeated soldiers to escape from Ascension.

And Li Zhong only contained these defeated soldiers. As for the request of the officers to Li Zhong to send troops to the rescue immediately, Li Zhong only said that he wanted to ask for instructions.

Li Yan was also surprised to receive the news of Sun Chuanting's defeat, after all, Sun Chuanting went out with an army of 100,000 troops, and it was defeated in just a few days, which was really disappointing. Originally, he hoped that Sun Chuanting could weaken Li Zicheng's strength, but judging from the information he received, the official army did not cause any decent damage to Li Zicheng at all.

Two days later, he judged from receiving more information that Li Zicheng might be chasing Sun Chuanting's team all the way to Shaanxi. Therefore, he immediately sent a letter to Li Zhong, asking him to send the Shaanxi soldiers back to Shaanxi as soon as possible, and asked them to bring back the news of Sun Chuanting's defeat. It is also necessary to inform the officials and soldiers in Shaanxi that Li Zicheng may invade Shaanxi.

From Xunyang to Shaanxi, the road is dangerous and dangerous, as long as the Shaanxi army can prepare early, it should make Li Zicheng suffer heavy losses. As for whether he can stop Li Zicheng, it's hard to say, and he doesn't care. As long as Li Zicheng is not too strong, otherwise his pressure will be too great.

Now some officials in Kaifeng have begun to leave. Ever since he spoke with the clansmen, news of his rebellion has spread among the officials. Before, no matter whether what he did was in line with the rules of the court or not, but he was a guest of honor, or under the banner of the official army, those officials were unwilling to do much. After all, it's troubled times, and it's always good to be stable.

But after it was rumored that he had rebelled, those officials did not dare to stay in Kaifeng anymore. However, these officials knew that the north was no longer safe, so whether they thought they were loyal and patriotic, or those who did not want to be nostalgic for officialdom anymore, they all fled to Nanjing.

Fortunately, Li Yan didn't stop them, as long as the corresponding taxes were paid, they were all let go. However, these officials also slipped their heads and did not realize the property in Henan, they just left with the title deed, leaving the steward or their children and nephews to continue to take care of the property. No matter what happens in the future, at least Li Yan's rule is still very safe, and their property can be preserved to the best extent.

Niu Wenbing's secret report Li Yan did not stop him, he didn't care whether the court knew that he had the intention of rebelling. What he cares about now is this Shanxi businessman who has just been arrested.

This shopkeeper Liu is the shopkeeper of the Fan family in Zhangjiakou, and he brought more than 500 Mongolian horses, and the price is cheap, only 45 taels. However, after the transaction was finished, he first asked about the potatoes at the market, and planned to pay the farmers to go north with the seeds. After that, he inquired about the army everywhere, and was denounced by the hotel's junior two, so he was arrested.

Li Yan hesitated, this Fan family could get a large number of horses, which was exactly what he needed. But this shopkeeper Liu seems to be too concerned about the affairs of the army, and he has not yet decided what to do. So I'm going to ask for myself first.

"Shopkeeper Liu." Li Yan asked, "Why do you want to inquire about the affairs of the army?"

Shopkeeper Liu arched his hand and said, "Li Yibin, we are here to do business with you with sincerity." Naturally, it is necessary to deal with all kinds of relationships, and where can you not inquire about the preferences of officials and generals from all walks of life, this is an ordinary means, and somehow you have violated Li Yibin's rules. ”

"How heavy the artillery, how far it can hit, the number of troops, the salary of the sergeants, whether it really killed hundreds of Qing soldiers, these are all things you usually have to ask," Li Yan asked unceremoniously.

Shopkeeper Liu was stunned for a moment, and then said with a smile: "Yibin is suspicious." In the north, who doesn't know the power of the Qing soldiers I heard that Yibin killed hundreds of Qing soldiers at one time, and the villain really admired it. So I asked others about the army, just to find out if the soldiers under Yibin were all heavenly soldiers and generals, and why they were so much stronger than other officers and soldiers. ”

Li Yan smiled and suddenly asked, "This situation in the army, for you, is also a good deal?"

Shopkeeper Liu hurriedly arched his hand and said, "Yibin laughed." Although we are very profitable, but we small businesses still dare not participate in military affairs. We just communicate with each other and make some money, and nothing else. ”

Li Yan didn't continue to probe any longer, and instead asked: "Then what about the potatoes, you just buy them back, why do you have to ask someone to go north to plant them?"

"Our owner heard that the potato yield was huge, so he wanted to invite farmers to plant in the north to see if they could survive." Seeing that Li Yan didn't ask about the army again, Shopkeeper Liu relieved himself and explained easily: "If you can grow it, it will save you the trouble of transportation." Mongolians can't eat meat all day long, so the demand for potatoes should not be small. ”

"You guys can do business," Li Yan said with a smile, "If you get it, won't I have to drink the northwest wind?"

Shopkeeper Liu immediately bowed his hand and said: "Yibin rest assured, our host is by no means a person who cuts off people's money." That's why I was sent this time, because I wanted to get in touch with Yibin first, so that the price of horses would be so low this time. If Yibin is willing to let the villain bring some farmers and seeds back for testing, whether it succeeds or not, we can supply Yibin with more than 2,000 Mongolian horses every year, and the price is 80% of the market price. ”

"Two thousand horses" Li Yan groaned and said, "It doesn't seem to be much." ”

Shopkeeper Liu said: "Yibin, the villain doesn't hide it from you, and there won't be too much horse trade in Mongolia." Now that all the Mongolian tribes have joined the Qing state, their various departments have to pay tribute to the Qing state every year, so the honor guests should not have too high hopes. ”

Li Yan nodded and made a decision. He instructed: "Shopkeeper Liu, you can stay with me for two days first." It's the same with your guys, stay and don't have to rush back. Write a letter to your host, and ask him to prepare some more horses to trade, and I will exchange them with him, in exchange for grain. ”

"What do you mean by this," Shopkeeper Liu asked nervously.

Li Yan said with a smile: "It's not interesting, I just want to keep Shopkeeper Liu and others as guests." You should have something to deal with with the local government and soldiers, and take them out, and I'll have my people deliver a letter to your host. It would be nice if your hosts could come in person. ”

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