It is well known that Chongzhen pinned his hopes for the suppression of the rebels on the Xiangyang soldiers of the Huguang Army who were marching.

The total number of troops under the command of Du Yinxi and Zheng Sen is as much as 80,000, and they are all battle-hardened strong soldiers, as long as they can be transferred to Jiangdong in time, there should be no problem in blocking the rebel attack, after all, the leading troops of Du Yinxi and Zheng Sen are also good generals for a while. Coupled with Wu Mengming's Jiangbei Army and Chang Yanling's Beijing Battalion Soldiers, there are still as many as 300,000 troops controlled by the imperial court, and it is not impossible to suppress the rebels and recover Zhejiang.

However, everyone also knows that King Qi and his gang will definitely not let this happen, because everyone can see that the rebels in Zhejiang are not in a hurry to attack, but are running Zhejiang in an orderly manner.

Therefore, when the news from Jiangxi came, everyone in the Nanjing court was not surprised.

According to a report from Jiangxi, a few days ago, the officers and soldiers in Nanchang suddenly rioted, and tens of thousands of soldiers were involved, and under the suppression of Yan Yingyuan, the governor of Jiangxi, the rioting soldiers fled Nanchang and fled in the direction of Jiujiang.

And soon the news came from Jiujiang, tens of thousands of rioters attacked Jiujiang, Jiujiang defenders were caught off guard, and were rushed into the city by the rioters, and then the soldiers of Jiujiang were also involved in the riots, and the entire Jiujiang City was occupied by the rioters.

......

The imperial study of Qianqing Palace, after learning the news, Chongzhen's hands and feet were cold, his head was dizzy, Tian Cheng hurriedly ordered someone to summon the eunuch, and after a period of rescue, Chongzhen recovered, and hurriedly ordered someone to pass on several cabinet elders.

What does it mean for Jiujiang to be occupied by the rioters, Chongzhen knows it well, and now Plug Yinxi and Zheng Sen lead the troops from Wuchang to Zhejiang, Jiujiang is a must-pass place, Jiujiang is occupied by the rioters, which means that the army of Zheng Sen cannot pass through safely! Rescue soldiers are like fighting fires, maybe when the Zhejiang rebels will attack Jiangdong......

According to Yan Yingyuan, the governor of Jiangxi, the Zhejiang soldiers had just returned from the suppression of bandits in Fujian, and the rewards of the imperial court had not been issued for a long time, which had long caused the soldiers to be dissatisfied. Later, although the imperial court borrowed a sum of silver from the money bank, the reward was sent down. However, because of the corruption of the officers, the money in the hands of the soldiers was pitiful, and under the encouragement of some people, the soldiers rebelled.

Yan Yingyuan hurriedly transferred troops to suppress it, but there were too many dissatisfied soldiers in the entire Jiangxi army of more than 100,000 people, and Yan Yingyuan could only trust the standard camp. ”

In the Qianqing Palace, Shoufu Shi Kefa reported the incident to Chongzhen.

"The soldiers rioted, sooner rather than later, why at this time, this is clearly premeditated, right?" Chongzhen scolded angrily, "Investigate, strictly investigate to find out the specific cause of the riot, all those involved will be killed, and no one can be spared!" ”

Shi Kefa and Qian Qianyi glanced at each other, they were silent, and they both knew in their hearts that even if they sent someone to investigate, they couldn't find anything. Jiangxi was originally the territory of Chen Yue, the king of Qi, and most of the more than 100,000 Jiangxi soldiers were formed by Chen Yue when he exterminated Zhang Xianzhong, and the generals in the army were all cronies of Chen Yue, the king of Qi, that is, Yan Yingyuan, the governor of Jiangxi, was promoted by Chen Yue from the county lord Bo to the feudal official.

Now Jiangxi is not openly rebelling, but only acting in the name of a violent soldier, which can be regarded as giving face to the imperial court. If you send someone to investigate, I am afraid that Jiangxi will be forced to openly join the ranks of the rebels!

"Your Majesty, the top priority now is not to investigate the truth of the rioters' rebellion, but to pacify the Jiujiang rioters, so that the army of Zheng Sen of Plugging Yinxi can smoothly pass through Jiangxi and reach Zhejiang." When Chongzhen's anger stopped, Shi Kefa reminded gently.

"Is there anything you can do about it, Elder Scott?" Chongzhen looked at Shi Kefa coldly and asked, he was already very disappointed in Shi Kefa Chongzhen.

For Chongzhen, who has changed the 17th first assistant, it is a miracle that he has not replaced Shi Kefa, the first assistant, since he came to Nanjing for more than three years. Mainly because Chongzhen reflected a lot after going through the ordeal, and realized that the replacement of the first assistant and Taiqin would lead to the unfavorable operation of the imperial court, and Shi Kefa's reputation was too high, and replacing him would cause shock to the government and the opposition. And after coming to Nanjing, the situation was very good for a while, and seeing that the Ming Dynasty was in sight, there was no need to replace the first assistant.

But now, Chongzhen's heart is surging with the urge to replace Shi Kefa. The main reason is that during this period of time, the situation in the imperial court has become worse and worse, and Shi Kefa, as the first assistant, has no ability to reverse the situation in Chongzhen's opinion.

And these days, Chongzhen often thinks of Shi Kefa's performance when he was in a coma, it is precisely because of the compromise between Shi Kefa and Chen Yue that Chen Yue is getting more and more powerful! made Chongzhen suspect that Shi Kefa might collude with Chen Yue.

In any case, the Ming Dynasty cannot fall into the hands of outsiders, in Chongzhen's heart, even if King Lu of Tang ascends the throne, it is better than falling into the hands of Chen Yue.

Once the suspicious mind is born, it grows rapidly like a weed, and the more Chongzhen looks at Shi Kefa, the more unpleasant it becomes.

"Jiujiang is related to whether the army of Guyinxi can arrive at the Jiangdong battlefield in time, and the riot must be quelled quickly. Shi Ge Lao, as the first assistant of the current dynasty, you have an unshirkable responsibility for this matter, so you will go to Jiujiang on behalf of the imperial court and be responsible for quelling the riots! Chongzhen said to Shi Kefa.

How so? Shi Kefa was shocked and couldn't help himself, he never thought that Chongzhen would send himself to a place like Jiujiang. He is the head of the first hundred officials of the dynasty, and his position is in the cabinet in the court, how can he go to Jiujiang, where the soldiers stay?

"Your Majesty, Yuanfu is the head of the cabinet, and the court can't do without him." Chongzhen's order was so ridiculous that Qian Qianyi was shocked, and hurriedly persuaded him after he woke up.

Chongzhen said coldly: "The biggest thing when the rioters occupy Jiujiang now, nothing is bigger than this. Qian Ge Lao, after Yuanfu leaves the imperial court, you will temporarily take the responsibility of Shoufu! ”

Chongzhen's will was so firm that Qian Qianyi knew that he couldn't persuade him, so he could only sigh and agree.

Shi Kefa, as the first assistant of the cabinet, has worked hard for the imperial court for three years, and now he is sent to a dangerous place like Jiujiang, even Qian Qianyi also has a sense of sadness for the death of a rabbit and a fox, and he is not happy at all for the temporary first assistant.

In the cabinet, Shi Kefa has calmed down and began to hand over affairs to Qian Qianyi in an orderly manner.

"Yuanfu, Your Majesty, he ......" Qian Qianyi comforted, but he didn't know how to say.

Shi Kefa said calmly: "Daming has fallen into the current situation, I have an unshirkable responsibility as the first assistant, and I should go to Jiujiang." In fact, I was already very surprised to be able to be the first assistant for three years. ”

"Alas!" Qian Qianyi sighed and said no more.

Before stepping out of the cabinet, Shi Kefa turned to look at Qian Qianyi and wanted to speak.

"Motosuke, what else do you have to order, just say it." Qian Qianyi hurriedly said.

Shi Kefa shook his head: "It's nothing, in short, you can do it yourself!" ”

.。 m.