After Emperor Chongzhen, Sun Chengzong, and Chen Xinjia listened to Liu Yunwei's words, they were all excited, so the chance of winning this battle was very great. But then, Emperor Chongzhen, Sun Chengzong, and Chen Xinjia were silent again, all thinking carefully about Liu Yunwei's strategy.

Sun Chengzong, who is the secretary of the military department, first asked: "Zhenguo Gong, according to your strategy, not only do you need to recruit the Hanwei army and the Dangkou battalion to count the soldiers and horses of the town, but also to recruit several large armies from all over the country to supervise and recruit the general army, can you be more specific?" ”

Liu Yunwei said: "That's the case, Your Majesty, Chen Ge Lao, I am ready to recruit the pacesetter battalion under my command, Wen Poyu, the chief military officer of Jizhou Town, Wu Xing, the chief military officer of Liaoyang Town, Zhao Kaishan, the chief military officer of Guangning, Li Dingguo, the chief military officer of southern Liaoning, Gao Hongguang, the chief military officer of Taining, Huang Fuming, the chief military officer of Haixi, Ai Nengqi, the chief military officer of Tashan, Cao Wenzhao, the chief military officer of Lintao, Yang Guozhu, the chief soldier of Xuanfu, Sun Chuanting, the governor of Shaanxi, and Lu Xiangsheng, the governor of Huguang, to carry out the Northern Expedition. The remaining Shanhai Town Chief Military Officer Zhao Shujiao, Tongzhou Town Chief Military Officer Lu Ying, Shenyang Chief Military Officer Li Tianhao, Jianzhou General Military Officer Wang Dangdang, and Jilin General Military Officer Li Laiheng each led their headquarters to defend the place. ”

"And the troops and horses I am going to recruit will be divided into two routes, of which the left army will be composed of the pacesetter battalion under my command, the general military officer of Jizhou Town, Wen Poyu, the governor of Shaanxi, the governor of Shaanxi, the governor of Huguang, Lu Xiangsheng, the general military officer of Guangning, Zhao Kaishan, and the general military officer Cao Wenzhao of Lintao, and I will personally lead the left army to sweep through the Mongolian departments, with a strength of about 150,000."

"The right army is composed of Wu Xing, the chief military officer of Liaoyang Town, the general military officer Li Dingguo of Liaonan, the general military officer Gao Hongguang of Taining, the general military officer of Haixi Huangfuming, the general military officer of Tashan Ai Nengqi, and the general army of Xuanfu Yang Guozhu, the main commander of Liaoyang Town, Wu Xing, the general military officer of Liaoyang Town, and the right army will be assembled one after another on the right guard of Dingliao, and cross the Yalu River to attack Korea, with a strength of about 210,000."

Speaking of this, Liu Yunwei took a deep breath and said to Emperor Chongzhen, Sun Chengzong, and Chen Xinjia: "This time, the left and right armies have a total of 360,000 soldiers and horses, and they are tentatively scheduled to go out in the spring of next year, probably between March and April. ”

Emperor Chongzhen frowned at this time and said: "Although the Korean country is narrow and the people are tired, after all, it is a country in the east, and the Mongolian tribes are not small states and small countries that are about to collapse at the touch of a button. ”

Chen Xinjia also said worriedly: "Yes, the lessons of the Battle of Salhu back then cannot be forgotten!" Although the Mongol tribes lost their troops and their strength during the Liaodong War, they still had 200,000 or 300,000 iron cavalry and millions of Dingkou, and their strength should not be underestimated! And although the Korean country is weak, it is also known as having a million troops and a land of 3,000 miles, which cannot be underestimated! ”

Sun Chengzong on the side frowned and thought about it, but didn't say anything.

After listening to this, Liu Yunwei nodded and said: "Your Majesty and Chen Ge Lao are not unreasonable, but the current situation is not the same as when the Salhu War was fought back then, then the Mongolian tribes and the Korean State are not Manchu Tatars, and my Northern Expedition army is not the 100,000 army that lacked food and clothing and had low morale!" ”

Chen Xinjia said suspiciously: "Zhen Guogong, these left and right armies are the elite soldiers and horses of my Ming Dynasty, but in the face of several times the enemy army, I am afraid it is also a little difficult." In my opinion, it is foolproof to combine two armies in one place, first sweep through the Mongol tribes, and then attack Korea! ”

At this time, Sun Chengzong said: "No! If, according to Chen Gelao, the army marches in one place, first Mongolia and then Korea, not only will the time of the war be extended indefinitely, but the military expenses required by the officers and men of the army will also increase several times. The most important thing is that when the army goes out to conquer the Mongol tribes, it is impossible to end the war in a short time, and during this period, the Korean state will definitely learn the news, and when our army moves eastward, I am afraid that the Korean country will already be ready and ready to work! At that time, our army will attack the enemy country that has already been prepared, and it will definitely be half the result! ”

Although Chen Xinjia was secretly unhappy in his heart when he heard this, he still nodded slightly, and had to admit that what Sun Chengzong said was reasonable, and he had no way to refute it.

Liu Yunwei said with a smile: "What Lord Sun said is extremely true, it is precisely with this in mind that I will divide my troops into two ways and attack at the same time!" ”

Emperor Chongzhen nodded slightly, obviously agreeing with Liu Yunwei's strategy of dividing the troops, but he was worried that the strength of the two armies would be insufficient, so that they would be broken by the enemy army, resulting in a crushing defeat for the army.

So, Emperor Chongzhen asked: "Zhenguo Gong, I can't help but recruit some soldiers and horses from all over the country, such as Sichuan soldiers, how about it?" ”

Liu Yunwei pondered for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, Weichen has already recruited four elite soldiers from all over the country to accompany the expedition, in fact, in terms of troops, the two armies are already enough, and they can fully cope with the upcoming war. His Majesty's proposal that the Sichuan soldiers should not be requisitioned and transferred, the Shu Road is difficult, and it is not easy to mobilize the Sichuan soldiers, and it is too late in time. And one more thing, this ......"

Emperor Chongzhen saw that Liu Yunwei looked like he wanted to speak and stopped, so he said with a smile: "Zhenguo Gong, but it doesn't hurt to say it!" ”

Liu Yunwei sighed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, there hasn't been a single snow this winter until now, and all parts of Daming are very dry and extremely cold. On the way to the capital, Weichen had noticed that even the farmland in Beizhili had been frozen by the dry and cold weather! His Majesty should know what that means. ”

Hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen's face instantly became very ugly, and the faces of Sun Chengzong, Chen Xinjia, and Wang Chengen on the side were also extremely dignified.

Everyone here understands that next year's Daming must be another year of many disasters and difficulties, and all parts of Daming will be hit by continuous natural disasters, maybe there will be a resurgence of smoke!

Liu Yunwei said with some sadness: "Your Majesty, in addition to the four soldiers and horses recruited by Weichen, there are actually many elite and capable armies in various parts of the Ming Dynasty, such as the Sichuan soldiers, the Jiangning General Soldier Huang Degong's Division, the Trilateral Governor's Hong Chengchou's Division, the Guangdong Commander-in-Chief Zheng Zhilong's Division, etc., in fact, they can all go out to conquer outside the Saiwai. However, Weichen is worried that there will be a lot of disasters in various places next year, so that there will be another civil uprising, and even the army of thieves will make a comeback, so all parts of the Ming Dynasty must leave enough elite troops to guard the interior. For example, the Sichuan soldiers, the Jiangning General Huang Degong's department, the trilateral governor's Hong Chengchou's department, and the Guangdong commander-in-chief's Zheng Zhilong's department cannot be easily transferred, and they must be left to guard the north and south of the Ming Dynasty in case of accidents! ”

Emperor Chongzhen was a little relieved when he saw that Liu Yunwei, the prince of Zhenguo, had already arranged the back road, but he was still a little worried, so he said: "I see, if this is the case, it is better to stop the Northern Expedition for the time being, and wait for next year's catastrophe year to pass smoothly before putting it on the agenda." ”

When Liu Yunwei and Sun Chengzong heard this, they said almost at the same time: "Your Majesty, no! ”

After the two glanced at each other, Liu Yunwei stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Wei Chen said a word of killing, what if after next year, I will be a year of great disasters next year?" So when will our army be able to move north? Three, five, or ten years? By that time, not only the Korean state would have been prepared, but even the Mongol tribes would have recovered! ”

Sun Chengzong added: "Your Majesty, if I send troops north at that time, I am afraid that the price that I need to pay will be more than ten times greater!" ”

Emperor Chongzhen nodded heavily when he heard this, and said: "What Zhenguo Gong and Sun Shangshu said is extremely true, it is simple for me to think!" Anyway, since Zhenguo Gong has planned properly, then the military affairs of this war will be accurate according to what Zhen Guogong said! ”

Liu Yunwei, Sun Chengzong, and Chen Xinjia said in unison: "Your Majesty is wise! ”

Next, Emperor Chongzhen discussed with the three of them the logistics of the army's northward movement.

Liu Yunwei said: "Your Majesty, Weichen has already calculated that this Warring States Dynasty will dispatch a large army of about 360,000 soldiers and 800,000 people, and the monthly military expenses will be about 1.3 million taels of silver and about 60,000 stone of military rations. Before the army went north, the imperial court should raise at least half a year's money, food, and ordnance. ”

When Emperor Chongzhen heard the series of figures reported by Liu Yunwei, he was suddenly shocked in his heart. Before, Emperor Chongzhen thought that the huge amount of money and grain in the treasury was enough to support it for a long time, and he could do many great things. However, Emperor Chongzhen never thought that a big war would consume so much money and food, and if the war was postponed, even if it was only fought for a year, it would cost 15 or 6 million taels of silver, not counting the compensation of the fallen soldiers and the rewards of the meritorious soldiers!

Emperor Chongzhen secretly said in his heart: "That's it! As long as this battle is won, then Daming can take a breath and concentrate on internal affairs! No matter how much money you spend, it's worth it! ”

Thinking of this, Emperor Chongzhen stood up and looked at everyone, his eyes full of determination.

And Liu Yunwei, Chen Xinjia, and Sun Chengzong also got up in a hurry and quietly waited for Emperor Chongzhen to give his will.

"I, determined! Going out to conquer the outside of the Saiwai, let me step on the Mongolian steppe and the three thousand miles of rivers and mountains in North Korea! ”

Liu Yunwei, Chen Xinjia, and Sun Chengzong saw that Emperor Chongzhen had made up his mind, and they also said loudly: "Your Majesty is wise! Minister, Commander! ”

As soon as the words fell, Emperor Chongzhen walked to the side of Liu Yunwei, the prince of Zhenguo, took Liu Yunwei's hand, and said: "Duke Zhenguo, the affairs of the conquest are entrusted to you!" The imperial court will also do its best to ensure the supply of money and food for the two armies, and will never let the front-line soldiers be in short supply. I'm waiting for the news of the Zhenguo Gong on the Jinluan Palace! ”

Liu Yunwei nodded heavily and said, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, Weichen will definitely sweep the Mongolian steppe, pacify the Korean country, and lay down a hundred years of peace for my emperor!" ”

On that day, after Liu Yunwei came out of the palace, he immediately gathered Guo Yi and other twenty personal guards who had been waiting outside the palace, and then left the capital without stopping, and rushed all the way towards Tongzhou City.