At the end of February, Beijing, Zuoshun Gate side hall.

Emperor Chongzhen looked at the ministers standing below with low eyebrows, stared at them for a long time, and then asked again: "Zhongqing, regarding the selection of the governor of the three sides, who can be the important task?" Secretaries can speak freely, recommend, and self-recommend. ”

Silent, still the same as after he asked last time, no one came out to recommend.

Chongzhen waited for a while, but no one stood up to share his worries. He stood up and walked away.

"Greetings to Your Majesty." All the ministers in the main hall bowed down and bowed respectfully to the empty dragon chair. After that, the ministers withdrew from the main hall and returned to the yamen office in twos and threes.

Not long after Chen Xinjia left the main hall, he was caught up by a little eunuch and whispered: "Chen Benbing, Your Majesty summoned the Qianqing Palace." ”

When he arrived at the Qianqing Palace, Chen Xinjia saluted Chongzhen and waited there. Chongzhen was commenting on the chapter, and he didn't dare to disturb. There were several stacks of medallions on the emperor's imperial case, each of which was more than a foot high. Originally, the previous recital was to let the cabinet pass aside, divide it into priorities, give opinions, and the emperor should approve it. However, Chongzhen suspected that the cabinet was mishandled, and he was afraid of the dictatorship of the eunuchs in the inner court, so he asked all the pieces to be reported, which doubled his workload.

Chongzhen finally finished the instructions, put the chapter aside, and then looked up and asked, "Is there any news from Henan and Nanzhili?" ”

Chen Xinjia shook his head and said: "It's still the fall of Chenzhou, and the thieves may attack Taikang." There is no other new news yet. ”

"Where did Zuo Liangyu go?! Where did He Renlong go?! Chongzhen asked sharply.

Chen Xinjia replied helplessly: "Zuo Liangyu went to Xinyang, and He Renlong and others returned to Shaanxi. ”

"What is the Ministry going to do with it?!" Chongzhen asked.

Chen Xinjia said embarrassedly: "This, now is the time to employ people, and the minister believes that it should be dealt with leniently." ”

"Lenient, how lenient?!" Chongzhen said loudly: "There are already two governors who have fallen and thieves!" How many states and counties have been breached by thieves?! The most important thing is to let the situation of thieves be bad and bad! The thieves who should have been exterminated in 12 years have intensified! Now that the entire Central Plains is eroded, these generals are not punishable! ”

"Your Majesty thinks twice." Chen Xinjia hurriedly persuaded: "The 300,000 tigers and wolves under Zuo Liangyu's command, once they lose control, they will definitely merge with the thieves, and they will inevitably threaten the world." ”

Chongzhen gasped, and then gritted his teeth and asked, "What about He Renlong?!" Can't be disposed of either?! ”

Chen Xinjia weighed it for a while before replying: "Although He Renlong's strength is not as good as Zuo Liangyu, his subordinates are all proud soldiers. If it is not handled properly, the land of Shaanxi may also be smoked again. ”

Chongzhen was silent for a while, and then said, "Let Sun Chuanting deal with it, how about it?" He was the governor of Shaanxi before, commanding He Renlong to chase and suppress Gao Chuang. Moreover, he has outstanding military achievements, and he can win the admiration of all generals if he wants to come. ”

Chen Xinjia was silent at this time, this Sun Chuanting was thrown into prison by Yang Sichang, and no one dared to ask in the past few years. Now although Yang Sichang is dead, his status in Chongzhen's heart is still much higher than Hong Chengchou and him.

Chongzhen is also helpless now. Today, he asked Chang Chaoshang twice, but no one came out to share his worries, and no one recommended him to succeed him as the governor of the three sides of Shaanxi. At this time, he wanted to deal with He Renlong to set an example, but it reminded him that he still had a Wenchen who could fight.

"Alright, that's it!" Chongzhen ordered: "Tomorrow, you arrange for someone to write and recommend Sun Chuanting to be the trilateral general system." He Renlong must be severely punished this time, as a lesson for the generals! As for Zuo Liangyu, he was removed from his post and retained! ”

"Minister, obey the order." Chen Xinjia handed over the order. Since Yang Sichang is dead, and the emperor wants to use Sun Chuanting, then he doesn't care.

Chongzhen's mood was a little better, he not only determined the candidate for the governor of the three sides of Shaanxi, but also determined that He Renlong, who had fled without a fight, would be dealt with. In this way, it can give those generals a warning, the court still has a law, and they must act according to the order in the future!

He took a sip of tea and asked lightly, "Is there a report in Liaoxi?" ”

"The military department has not received any new information." Chen Xinjia immediately replied.

In fact, at this time, Songshan City had fallen, and Hong Chengchou, Qiu Minyang, Cao Bianjiao, and Wang Tingchen had all been captured. Xia Chengde, the defender in the city, communicated with the Qing soldiers in the desperate situation that there was no food and grass, and the reinforcements were not rescued, and the defenders in the city were unable to break through.

However, there were many Qing soldiers there, and Wu Sangui and others did not dare to send sentinels, so they did not get any news. And even if you get the news, such a big thing must be confirmed before you dare to report it, so there is no news here in Beijing.

"Zu Zepu, the son of Zu Dashou, has sold his property and organized thousands of soldiers in Liaodi." Chongzhen said: "He asked Wu Sangui to stand in Tashan and Gaoqiao to confront the Qing soldiers before raising troops. At that time, the Qing army was in chaos, and our soldiers covered the past in one fell swoop, and the siege of the three cities could be solved immediately. Do you know that? ”

Chen Xinjia explained: "Your Majesty, he is saving his father's heart, wishful thinking!" How much combat power can the thousands of newly recruited soldiers have? Wu Sangui and the others did not attack, but they lacked troops and weapons, and they were newly defeated, so they were not the opponents of the Qing soldiers at all. Such an attack will only increase casualties. ”

"It is precisely because of his desire to save his father that he has the determination to thwart the stubborn enemy." Chongzhen disagreed with Chen Xinjia's statement and retorted: "The people of Liaozuo, brave and good at fighting, and enslaved by Jiannu, will naturally have the same hatred and hatred of the enemy. Wu Sangui is Zu Dashou's nephew, how can he not be killed? I thought that this surprise attack would defeat the enemy in one fell swoop and relieve the siege of the three cities. ”

Chen Xinjia hurriedly stopped: "Your Majesty, no." The minister had already received a letter from the Qing court, agreeing that the two sides would contact each other on the fourth day of the first month of March and begin peace talks. As long as the peace talks begin, the three cities will cease fighting first, no matter whether the peace talks are successful or not, we will first protect the soldiers and generals of the three cities, this is the whole division. As long as the division of a hundred battles can be preserved, whether it is war or peace in the future, the imperial court will have confidence. ”

"Stop the peace talks in advance," Chongzhen made up his mind and insisted: "As long as the Qing soldiers can be defeated this time, there will be no need for peace talks, and there is no need to worry about the public opinion of the ministers in the court." And it can also give the imperial court time to quell the civil strife, which is a God-given opportunity and must not be missed! ”

Chen Xinjia wanted to persuade again, but was stopped by Chongzhen: "You don't have to persuade again, no matter what, I have to give it a try!" If you can decide the situation in one battle, you don't have to compromise on everything! I am the Son of Heaven, and I will be favored by God! ”

Chen Xinjia had no choice but to keep silent.

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