After mentioning the idea of setting up a military intelligence bureau to Li Hongyuan and putting Li Hongyuan in charge of preparing for the establishment of this intelligence department, Zhu Youzhen turned the topic back to the intelligence on the Horqin department.

"In other words, apart from Oba, the second most powerful figure in the Korqin tribe is this Zaisang-Buhe? This Buhe's sister Zhezhe and daughter Bumu Butai are both married to Huang Taiji, and it seems that he is the key person who connected the Later Jin and Horqin tribes. Oba is old, and if something happens, he will be able to take over the power of the Korqin Ministry, except for Oba's son, it seems that he also has a chance. ”

Li Hongyuan nodded and said: "Based on Oba's performance in this war, the minister thinks that Houjin may not be at ease with him, forcing Oba to withdraw from the power center, and then supporting the leader of the Horqin Department who is close to Houjin to control the Horqin Department, which should be what the Houjin army will inevitably do after returning home."

And supporting Buhe is also a high probability event, I heard that this Buhe also has an eldest daughter, because the person who was married to him died in battle with the Chahar Department, and now he is still waiting for the boudoir. If Hou Jin wants to support this Zaisang-Bu and hold the power of the Horqin Ministry, then soon this eldest daughter will probably arrange to marry Hou Jin's relatives. ”

Zhu Youzhen thought about it and said: "If you can't let this cloth and Tonghou Jin be completely tied together, then the Horqin Department will really fall into the hands of Hou Jin."

How old is this Buhe's eldest daughter? No, it doesn't matter either. You go to the Horqin captives to find two reliable and clever ones, and have them send them back to the Horqin tribe from Liaoxi, and tell the principals of the Horqin tribe to send Buhe's eldest daughter to the Ming Dynasty, then I will put the prisoners of the Horqin tribe back, otherwise... Let them weigh the consequences for themselves. ”

Li Hongyuan left the Governor's Mansion and found the three people who were the first to get close to the Ming Dynasty among the captives of the Horqin Tribe, and conveyed Chongzhen's orders to them.

Zheger, who had a higher status among the three, couldn't help but nervously ask Li Hongyuan: "The little one asks a lot of questions, dare to ask the emperor to let Zaisang send Hai Lanzhu here, but will he send Hai Lanzhu into the palace to serve the emperor?" ”

Li Hongyuan thought about it carefully, then nodded and said, "Of course, as long as Zai Sang sends Hai Lanzhu into the palace, those of your captured clansmen will be released back as soon as possible."

I have arranged horses and guards for you, and when you are ready, you will leave the Shanhai Pass at once. If you are still worried about the safety of these clansmen, then it is best to send Hai Lanzhu to Jinzhou as soon as possible before the Houjin army retreats to Shenyang, so as not to have too many dreams at night. ”

Zhegel exchanged glances with the two companions beside him, and the stone in his heart finally let go. If it is to marry the emperor of the Ming Kingdom, then this errand is not a problem, and with this family business, the Horqin Ministry does not have to worry about the decline of the Houjin, and the Ming Congress will retaliate against the Horqin Department.

The three of them responded to Li Hongyuan in unison, and Zhegel said to Li Hongyuan: "The three of us have nothing to clean up, the emperor's will is very important, it is better for us to go on the road, lest the matter has not been settled, and the Lord of Houjin Khan has returned to Shenyang." My Horqin Department has very close contacts with Houjin, and I am afraid that someone will report to the Houjin Khan at that time, and this matter will be troublesome..."

On December 19, Chongzhen left Santun Camp with Wang Zaijin and other officials for Zunhua. After talking with Zu Dashou, Wang Zhichen and other officials who saw him off for a while, Zhu Youzhen turned around and walked towards his carriage.

Before getting into the carriage, he remembered something, turned his head to Li Hongyuan, who was following behind him, and asked, "Is the matter of the Horqin Department properly arranged?" ”

Li Hongyuan looked at the people on the side, so he vaguely agreed: "The minister has already arranged it yesterday, and the messenger is also on the way." ”

Zhu Youzhen nodded and said, "That's good." As Chongzhen got into the carriage, the officials also got on their horses and followed the emperor's carriage towards the snow-covered official road to the west.

On the afternoon of 20 December, Zhu Youzhen arrived in Zunhua City. Although the entire city of Zunhua was wrapped in a quilt after the heavy snowfall, the ruins that looked like monsters after the snow reminded him of the fierce battles that took place here.

Sun Chengzong took the soldiers and civilians of Zunhua City and the civil and military officials of the Ming Army on the West Road were already waiting outside the east gate, and the crowds on both sides of the street stretched for a mile or two, and they also came to greet the emperor's car, after all, this was the first time they saw the emperor, and maybe the last time.

Although more than one-third of the houses outside Zunhua City were destroyed during the nearly month-long battle to defend the city, the implementation of military control and the wartime supply system in the past month has made the spiritual outlook of most of the people in Zunhua City, who have lived a collective life, appear to be in a positive state.

After all, man is a social animal, and in an unorganized state, the crowd that encounters disaster has basically nothing to do except cry, escape, and endure. But once the crowd is organized to fight the disaster, maybe their loss and pain are not reduced, but most people can rely on the organization to bear the pain caused by the disaster to the greatest extent.

After Zhu Youzhen learned that the soldiers and civilians of Zunhua City and Sun Chengzong and other officials were meeting him outside the city, he stopped the carriage and decided to walk the last part of the journey into the city.

As soon as he stepped out of the carriage, he saw Sun Chengzong walking towards him, and Zhu Youzhen quickly jumped off the pedal of the carriage and greeted Sun Chengzong. The soldiers and civilians of Zunhua City swept the nearly five-mile-long avenue outside the east gate, so Zhu Youzhen didn't have to worry about stepping into the snow pit when he walked.

"This time it's really hard Mr. Sun, without Mr. Sun's previous strategy, the reinforcements and materials from all over the place can't be transported up so quickly, we can't say that we will be hungry and confront Houjin, at that time Houjin will not retreat, it is really unknown." Zhu Youzhen grabbed Sun Chengzong's arms and stopped him from saluting himself, and said eagerly.

As soon as the emperor arrived in Zunhua, he praised Sun Chengzong's merits, which immediately made the generals of the Western Route Army standing behind Sun Chengzong much more comfortable. Since Houjin has retreated, discussing the size of the contribution in this battle against Houjin has naturally become the most concerned matter for generals from all walks of life.

Although Zhao led the city to defend Zunhua, the Later Jin army did not obtain a large number of military supplies stored in the city, so it could not freely enter the Gyeonggi region westward, which was the key point of the Ming army's victory in this war. However, as the chief general of Jizhou Town, he defended the Great Wall passes in the area and fell continuously, so that the Houjin army could successfully break through the passes, and he was also the object of questioning. If the merit and crime are offset, it would be good if the emperor could not punish him, but as for the first merit, it is obvious that he should not think about it.

Next is the Ming Army of the West Road led by the New Army and the Ming Army of the East Road dominated by the Liaodong Army, the former won the first victory, and also recaptured Shimenxia, sealing the important passage of the Later Jin Army to the west, which can be said to be a turning point in this war.

However, the successive defeats of the Houjin left-wing troops by the Ming army on the Eastern Road were the key to making the Houjin army jealous and finally having to retreat. However, although the main force of the Ming army on the western route was regarded as the emperor's descendant, the victory of the Ming army on the eastern route was achieved under the command of the emperor.

It can be said that the conditions of both sides are not up or down, and whether they can get the first merit in this battle depends on the emperor's choice. As soon as Chongzhen arrived, he praised Sun Chengzong, the chief general of the Ming Army on the West Road, and at this moment many generals thought that the first merit of the Ming Army on the West Road was a certainty.

Sun Chengzong was also a little surprised by Chongzhen's praise, he originally thought that he would persuade the emperor to return to the capital as soon as he met, and he quickly excused himself: "Your Majesty's praise is not acceptable, and the minister actually has no merit in this battle. As for His Majesty's remarks about dispatching supplies and reinforcements from all over the country, it is also the staff officers of the General Staff and the cabinet ministers who have contributed a lot..."

Zhu Youzhen did not give him a chance to continue refusing, but took advantage of the situation to help him walk towards the city, and said to the civil and military officials around him: "Mr. Sun is really high-spirited, meritorious service but not meritorious service, you generals in the army, not only to learn from Mr. Sun how to command the battle, but also to learn from Mr. Sun's style of treating yourself strictly and leniently."

As for the compliments of the gentleman, I dare not be complacent. I just ran a little more, as for the first soldier, it is a bit exaggerated, even if I was on the battlefield, there were hundreds of people surrounding me, how can this be called a leading soldier?

If you want to say that there is merit in this battle, it will definitely not be on me. I thought that the first credit for this battle was on the soldiers who sacrificed for the country, followed by Mr., and then on the soldiers who went into battle to kill the enemy and the Ming people who supported us in the war..."

Chongzhen's speech at the welcoming ceremony outside the city was not long, but it had already clearly stated his attitude towards who the first credit should belong. Although the generals from all walks of life regretted that the first merit was not related to them, since the emperor made his attitude public, the first merit did not fall into the hands of other generals, but it also made them extinguish the little thought of continuing to fight for merit.

Sun Chengzong also breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this, since he arrived in Zunhua City, although these generals did not openly argue about their merits in front of him, but there were also several incidents of private quarrels and asking people to speak in front of him.

After Zhu Youzhen took the lead in front of the generals, he began to talk along the street with the local people who came out to greet him. The people of Zunhua City obviously did not know as much about the etiquette of meeting the emperor as the people of the capital, and seeing that Chongzhen was amiable and let everyone not have to salute, and greeted them, he also had the courage to talk to the emperor for a few words.

Seeing the emperor's pro-people move to appease these Zunhua people, Sun Chengzong and other officials surprisingly did not come forward to urge, after all, this time the people of Zunhua not only paid huge financial losses, but also sacrificed tens of thousands of young people. After the retreat of the Houjin army, how to appease these disgruntled people has become a headache for Sun Chengzong and local officials.