Fang Yuan symbolically ate two mouthfuls of pastries, drank a few mouthfuls of lotus seed soup, and in Chongzhen's expectant gaze, Zhengrong said, "Your Majesty, the general policy proposed by the minister is that the Ming monarchs and ministers should understand the most basic fact, no matter what the external propaganda slogan is, the essence is that today's Guannai is no longer the world of the Ming family, and the Ming Dynasty is at best only one of the many warlords who have divided the territory, the stronger one, but it is the one with the worst geographical location, because it also has to face the attack of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. It is still the one with the greatest financial burden, because the warlords in various places are still reaching out to His Majesty to ask for money and food under the banner of the Ming Dynasty. ”

Chongzhen's face changed greatly when he heard this, and he said angrily, "Fang Yuan, you! ”

Fang Yuan turned a blind eye to his anger, good medicine is bitter and good for illness, if Chongzhen even had to cover up this most basic fact, then Da Ming would really be over, and there would be no hope of help. Fang Yuan could only think of escaping and finding other places to be a rogue.

Fang Yuan continued, "Since Da Ming is no longer the co-master of the world, there is no need to bear the responsibilities and obligations of the co-master. What Your Majesty has to do after that, first of all, is to only be pragmatic and not famous, the world is big, and the result of fighting for every inch of land is to gradually consume the vitality and vitality of the Ming Dynasty, and finally be eaten away and completely destroy the country. ”

His proposal was to give up part of the land and shrink the whole line, Chongzhen stared at Fang Yuan deadly, his eyes seemed to be about to erupt with fire.

Fang Yuan sighed secretly, the truth about the emperor's new clothes was indeed very cruel, but since no one was willing to expose it, he had to expose it himself.

Chongzhen was furious and said, "Fang Yuan, I don't care about your nonsense, I just want to listen to your three strategies. ”

Fang Yuan said lightly, "The next strategy is to maintain the status quo, continue to compete with the thieves for Henan, Zhang Xianzhong for Huguang, and then with the Manchu Qing for Guanwai, which day can last." Maybe Governor Sun is brave and invincible, can rescue Kaifeng and break the thieves, go south to annihilate Zhang Xianzhong, and then go north to repel the Manchus? ”

There was a deep irony in his words, with Sun Chuanting, even Li Zicheng couldn't calm down, let alone Zhang Xianzhong, Manchu Qing?

Chongzhen's face was full of murderous intent, and he said coldly, "What about the best strategy?" ”

Fang Yuan thought for a while and said, "The best strategy is to follow the story of the Southern Song Dynasty, move south to the south of the Yangtze River, first control the entire Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangzhou, and then Xu Tu to the north." Emperor Taizu was able to lay a three-hundred-year foundation of the Ming Dynasty with his bare hands, not to mention that His Majesty still has 200,000 soldiers in hand. ”

Chongzhen clenched his teeth, the anger in his eyes could erupt at any time, the proposal of moving south, the imperial court had already mentioned it, Fang Yuan tossed for a long time to propose such a plan to fry leftovers, which made him deeply disappointed, and asked coldly, "What about the middle strategy?" ”

Fang Yuan had already sensed the murderous intent in Chongzhen's eyes, and said unhurriedly, "The three strategies of the minister, in fact, there is no superiority or inferiority, just the difference between radical and conservative. The policy is too radical, and neither His Majesty nor the ministers will pass it; The strategy is too conservative, just sitting back and waiting. What the minister really wants to recommend to His Majesty is actually the middle policy! ”

When Chongzhen heard this, Long Yan's gloomy color was slightly calmer, and he asked, "Fang Yuan, say it quickly!" ”

Fang Yuan said slowly, "The imperial court does not need to move south for the time being, stay in the capital and stick to the Ming Dynasty." However, it is necessary to send a partial division to run Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangzhou, and make adequate preparations for the southward migration. Otherwise, if the capital is lost in a hurry, it will repeat the mistakes of Jingkang in the Northern Song Dynasty, and the world will immediately be in chaos, so that the Manchus have the opportunity to enter the Central Plains. ”

The reason why the Manchus were able to easily enter the Central Plains was because the capital of the Ming Dynasty was lost in a hurry, and the entire south was leaderless, which was broken by the Manchus one by one. If you can manage Jiangnan in advance and make it a monolith, even if you lose the northern Xinjiang, you will definitely have the ability to rule the river with the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and even the Northern Expedition to recover the homeland.

The murderous aura in Chongzhen's expression gradually disappeared, and was replaced by solemnity, "How should Jiangnan operate?" ”

Fang Yuan said, "Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangzhou are the rich places in the world, whether it is maritime trade, or private capital is extremely prosperous, the Southern Song Dynasty can rely on less than half of the country to deal with the strong enemies in the north for hundreds of years." As long as these pieces of land can be completely controlled, the land tax, commercial tax, mining tax, and maritime trade tax that should be collected will be collected, and the Ming treasury will be full, and there will be sufficient soldiers and horses, and the food and salary will continue to support the capital. ”

Fang Yuan's method is the fundamental good strategy to solve the Ming Dynasty's fiscal deficit, but this is not his discovery of the New World, Chongzhen, the cabinet ministers, and even Qian Qianyi, Liu Rushi and others can see the key points.

Strategy is strategy, but whether it can be implemented in place is another matter.

Chongzhen asked in a deep voice, "Your middle strategy is indeed a method that is not slow or urgent, but it is too far to run Jiangnan, and far water can't quench your thirst!" Now that Kaifeng is besieged again, and the Manchu Qing Dynasty is about to enter the customs, how to resolve this crisis? ”

"At this point, the minister also has a way to solve His Majesty's worries."

In Chongzhen's expectant gaze, Fang Yuan said to Wang Chengen, who was serving on the side, "Princess, can you take a map of the Ming Dynasty." ”

Emperor Chongzhen received the ministers at any time, prepared, Dongnuan Pavilion prepared more than ten maps at any time, Wang Chengen hurriedly ordered the little eunuch Xiao Linzi to take one and spread it on the dragon case.

Fang Yuan stood in front of the map on the dragon case, looked around cursoryly, and said slowly, "Your Majesty, the minister said that with the current national strength of the Ming Dynasty, it is no longer possible to fight for an inch of land, and it must be given up when it is abandoned, and abandoned when it is abandoned." ”

Chongzhen also walked over, looked at the map and asked, "Fang Yuan, where do you say you should give up?" ”

Fang Yuan pointed to the location of Shaanxi on the map and said, "Shaanxi, there are Zhang Xianzhong from Sichuan and Huguang in the south, Mongols in the north, robbers from Henan in the east, and barren and barren land in the west. Moreover, there is also the Taihang Mountains between the capital and Shaanxi. If you want to support each other, taking the Taihang Eight Mountains is not conducive to large-scale marching, and bypassing the Taihang Mountains will risk being cut off by Henan thieves. Shaanxi is a dead land, and it is worth the loss to invest vital forces and strategic resources here. ”

"The minister believes that if he abandons it, he should abandon it, and he should order Governor Sun to transfer his sergeants to the Gyeonggi area to protect the defense of Gyeonggi."

Chongzhen said with a sad face, "Fang Yuan, if Shaanxi gives up without a fight, isn't it giving the thieves a chance to grow?" ”

Fang Yuan smiled and said, "The minister will never give Liukou any chance to grow, Your Majesty can issue an order to Zhu Cunji, the King of Qin in Shaanxi, to follow the example of King Zhou in Henan to recruit troops to defend against the enemy." Moreover, before Governor Sun evacuated Shaanxi, he could order the gentry who did not want to leave the local area to repair a letter here. ”

He pointed to the map, in Hubei, southeast of Shaanxi, "Repair the book to Zhang Xianzhong in the west, and I am willing to welcome Zhang Xianzhong into Shaanxi." This is the battle of South Korea in Changping, the plan of the two tigers that the above party dedicated to Zhao Guo, oh no, it is the plan of the three tigers. ”

Since the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the military power of the vassal kings has been strictly limited, and they must be controlled by the local government, and they cannot even go out of the feudal town.

Fang Yuan's strategy was to follow the Tang Dynasty's method of quelling the Anshi Rebellion and the Huangchao Rebellion, and the central army withdrew from Shaanxi, restoring the military and political power of the vassal king, and becoming a feudal town defending one side. If Zhang Xianzhong's forces are introduced, there will be a situation in which the three forces of King Qin, Li Zicheng, and Zhang Xianzhong coexist in Shaanxi, and none of them can easily dominate, which is the so-called strategy of the three tigers.

"Good!"

Chongzhen patted the dragon case heavily and said, "It's a good plan for the three tigers to compete for food, but it's just a thief, a thief from the west, and will the king of Qin see through it and not hit the plan?" ”

"If they see through it, they will see through it, and if they see through it, they will jump into this pit, and Zhao Guo also saw through it before the battle, and it is not in the pit."

Fang Yuan patiently analyzed Chongzhen and said, "Your Majesty, let's talk about Zhang Xianzhong first, this person's repeated recruitment and rebellion have fully demonstrated that this person is a hero who aspires to the world, otherwise, he would have learned from Gao Jie and Bai Guangen to completely surrender to the Ming Dynasty." Such a piece of fat is placed in front of Zhang Xianzhong, even if his mouth is hot again, even if he will not digest it after eating it in one bite, can he bear not to eat it? Will he be willing to be the second of the rogue and let the thief be the boss? ”

Chongzhen nodded again and again when he heard this, and Fang Yuan continued, "Besides, the thieves have begun to besiege Kaifeng, and their troops are all trapped in the big quagmire of Kaifeng, and they can't get out to swallow the territory of Shaanxi. His Majesty can also order Governor Sun Chen Bing on the north bank of the Yellow River to support Kaifeng, and lend the thief the courage to fight Shaanxi before the capture of Kaifeng. ”

"There are also vassal kings King Qin, Luoyang Fu King, Xiangyang Xiang King Yin Jian is not far away, he doesn't learn from King Zhou to resist desperately, whether it is a big western thief or a thief who wins Shaanxi, can he still have life?"

"After King Qin and Zhang Xianzhong carved up Shaanxi, the thieves had no ability to invade Gyeonggi with a corner of Henan. Although Zhang Xianzhong has two territories in Sichuan and Shaanxi, he will also be restrained by the King of Qin, the thieves, and Huguang Zuo Liangyu, and it is fortunate that he can protect himself, and he has no ability to invade Gyeonggi. Throwing out this piece of fat meat in Shaanxi not only recalled Governor Sun and strengthened the defense of Gyeonggi, but also allowed the two Kou to contain each other, and they could no longer invade Gyeonggi, which was really a double win. ”

Chongzhen applauded and laughed when he heard this, and said, "Okay, this plan of the three tigers to compete for food is very good, very good." Can Kaifeng still be saved? ”

Zhu Gongfang, the king of Zhou who guarded Kaifeng, was also regarded as one of the vassal kings of the Ming Dynasty, leading the people of Kaifeng to resist Li Zicheng's three onslaughts, but in the grand strategy, rescuing Kaifeng was to fall into a long-term war of attrition with Li Zicheng, and the gains outweighed the losses.

Fang Yuan's eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice, "Kaifeng is an outcast, the only function is to drag the thieves for more than half a year's precious time, Your Majesty will have enough time to deal with the Manchu Qing's entry attack and solve the imminent crisis." ”

He talked about the most urgent Manchu entry, Chongzhen hurriedly asked, "Songjin is defeated, what else can I do to block the Manchu entry?" If the Manchu Qing Dynasty directly attacked the capital, how should it be defended? ”

Fang Yuan said slowly, "Huang Taiji is also a generation of heroes, his goal is to enter the Central Plains, and he will definitely not be the first to gnaw the hard bone of Daming." His strategy must be to sit outside the gate and watch the rogues wreak havoc on the Central Plains, consume the vitality of the Central Plains, and then find an opportunity to enter the Central Plains. Therefore, this entry is only of a plundering nature, and I will never choose the Gyeonggi area, which is heavily guarded by the guards of Gyeonggi and Governor Sun, but will choose here. ”

Fang Yuan pointed to the Shandong boundary on the map, between Gyeonggi and Nanjing, the capital of the Qing Dynasty, "The Manchu Tartars will choose Shandong as the target of their raids, and this time the battlefield with the Manchu Tartars is in Shandong!" ”

"Battlefield?!"

After the defeat of Songjin, Chongzhenzao recognized the reality, and completely lost confidence in the combat power and fighting spirit of the Ming army, shook his head bitterly and said, "Most of Shandong is a plain with a horse and a flat river, which is suitable for the Manchu iron cavalry to wreak havoc, and fight against the Manchu Qing in the Shandong territory. What's more, the heavy troops are guarding Gyeonggi, where can they spare troops to fight in Shandong? ”

Fang Yuan arched his hand and said, "Your Majesty, please be relieved, when the Manchu Qing Dynasty enters the customs and plunders, the minister will lead the army to snipe the iron cavalry of the Manchu Eight Banners and drive them out of Shandong!" ”

Chongzhen looked at Fang Yuan with a stunned face, although he didn't believe that Fang Yuan could really defeat the invincible Manchu Eight Banners, but the current situation was that the general soldiers of the Ming Dynasty saw the iron cavalry of the Manchu Eight Banners like a mouse seeing a cat, and they avoided the battle one after another, only daring to pile cannons on the city wall.

And Fang Yuan dared to take the initiative to challenge the iron cavalry of the Manchu Eight Banners on the plains, no matter whether he won or lost, this courage and determination alone also made Chongzhen very happy.

Chongzhen sighed and said, "Fang Yuan, you are really my Zhuge Kongming, and you are the savior sent by God to save the Ming Dynasty. ”

Fang Yuan was secretly ashamed, with his current vision, how could he possibly propose such a grand strategy? Regarding the situation at the end of the Ming Dynasty, whether it is a history expert or an online novel, different versions of the plan to save the crisis have already been given.

Fang Yuan only absorbed everyone's views, and then based on his personal experience, he removed the bad and took the essence of it, and then proposed such a strategy that he thought was feasible.

Chongzhen stretched his waist tiredly and asked Wang Chengen, "What time is it?" ”

Wang Chengen hurriedly said, "It's the fourth watch, Your Majesty and Fang Yuan have been talking all night, it's time to rest." ”

Chongzhen nodded, looked at Fang Yuan and said, "Fang Yuan, you go back and rest for two days first." ”

"Wang Chengen, immediately inform the ministers, three days later, all officials above the third rank in Gyeonggi will go to the Qianqing Palace to attend the court meeting, and I have urgent military affairs to discuss."