"However, at present, my Daming grain and grass materials are extremely limited, so when I go to the north, the first estimate is about 1,000 troops." Hong Chengchou explained the task in detail, "The biggest enemy, as the official has already said, is the extreme cold and the situation of thousands of miles of uninhabited. In addition, the emperor explained that the Tsarist Russian Empire, far to the west, also sent troops to operate, and their numbers were not large, but most of them were composed of extremely vicious people. This mission, in addition to conquering the small tribes and obtaining details of the activities of the northern tribes, is to destroy the Russian army......"

Listening to Hong Chengchou's detailed explanation, there were originally many generals who were eager to try, and they all calmed down. Especially those Han generals, for them, this Hetao area is cold enough, and if they go north, it is still the place where the legendary Haohai is further north, can there still be living people? What's more, what else is the army of Tsarist Russia, it is tempting to worship the generals and be knighted, but it is still a question whether they will come back alive!

Looking at the expressions of the generals below, Hong Chengchou knew in his heart, it seemed that he had guessed well, and those who could voluntarily accept this will would have to be selected among the Mongolian generals who had taken refuge.

After he finished talking about the difficulties of the Northern Expedition, he was about to say the other benefits that Emperor Chongzhen had explained, but suddenly saw a person in the hall striding out, clasping his hands into fists, raising his head and chest, and saying loudly: "The last general is willing to go!" ”

speaks with a northern Shaanxi accent, but he is a Han Chinese.

After a closer look, Hong Chengchou recognized it as a general who was born as a thief, the guerrilla general Li Zicheng! He couldn't help but be surprised, the additional benefits explained by the emperor hadn't been said yet, just a painting cake that worshiped the general and knighted made him moved?

Not only Hong Chengchou was surprised, but the other generals present were also surprised. Especially a tiger Li Guo, the original king Gao Yingxiang, they were more surprised than others. In their opinion, Li Zicheng is a smart person, steady in his work, generally does not suffer any losses, and is a rational person.

But now this errand is actually a very difficult errand, not only with small tribes, but also with the ferocious Tsarist army, and it is also a long-suffering errand. For themselves, the requirements for their subordinates are very high. The current life is much better than before, not only do you not have to worry about life, but you are also a guerrilla general, and you have all the glory and wealth. In such a comparison, everyone is reluctant to accept the will, how can you be such a smart person, how can you not know the good and bad in it?

Hong Chengchou looked at Li Zicheng with a serious expression, and confirmed again: "This official said that there will not be too many troops, and the food and grass materials are limited, and you need to run all over the north to the edge of the sky to open up territory for the emperor." During this period, not only do you need to fight, but you also need to be flexible, how to survive with the army in the cold environment, how to deal with the affairs of the tribes you encounter, if you annihilate the army of Tsarist Russia, the pressure is very great, are you still willing to take the order? ”

"The last will go!" Although Hong Chengchou said so much, Li Zicheng did not hesitate, and still responded immediately with a fist and a resolute attitude.

None of the others came out to compete with Li Zicheng for this errand, and they looked at Li Zicheng with admiration, surprise, disdain, ridicule, and so on.

Hong Chengchou quickly glanced at all the generals below on the main seat, and immediately nodded: "This is very good, today's discussion is like this, Li Zicheng stays!" ”

The generals obeyed the order, immediately bid farewell to the governor, and together they withdrew from the lobby and walked outside the governor's palace.

Before they reached the door, some people couldn't help but talk.

"He's a Han Chinese, do you know how cold it is in the north? Freeze him to death! ”

"Yes, thousands of miles of people are uninhabited, and they can make people desperate!"

"Farther than Haohai, hehe, he definitely doesn't know, the northern side is estimated to be bigger than the entire Ming Dynasty, and in this life, it is estimated that he will stay in the north!"

"I really want to be knighted and want to go crazy, it's just an empty pie, and when I didn't make it easy to come back alive, the emperor forgot that there was such a thing, haha!"

“……”

Listening to these words discussed by others, Li Guo and Gao Yingxiang were a little worried, if Li Zicheng was going to go, he didn't know when he would be able to see each other again in the future, and he didn't know if he could come back.

"Otherwise, I'll go and talk to the governor, I'll go too, I'll accompany Uncle Li!" Li Guo finally stopped and said to Gao Yingxiang.

Gao Yingxiang listened, glanced at the lobby of the Governor's Palace, and finally shook his head and said: "Forget it, your future is limitless, don't delay your future with him." ”

Because Li Guo could communicate directly with the emperor, he was very valued by the governor and Lord Zhongcheng. If nothing else, among all the generals, except for Man Gui, Li Guo will be the easiest general to get ahead.

Gao Yingxiang paused, shook his head again and said, "I don't know what he thinks, he has to take on such an errand." When he comes out, I'll talk about him well! But...... Since he has already taken it, he can't go back, it's all in vain! ”

Speaking of this, he sighed heavily: "No one even those Mongolian generals wants to go, I really don't know what he thinks!" ”

When Li Guo heard this, he also frowned and was silent, obviously he couldn't figure out what happened to Li Zicheng.

After nightfall, many of the generals he knew gathered in Gao Yingxiang's house, talking, and waiting for tomorrow morning, they would leave Guihua City and return to their respective stations. The topic they discussed was nothing more than this one. For Li Zicheng, no one can figure it out. The conclusion that can be reached is that Li Zicheng's ambition is too great! Of course, this is his own person, otherwise it is estimated that he is too ambitious, unwilling to do everything in front of him, and wants to climb up.

While they were talking, suddenly Li Zicheng came over.

As soon as they saw Li Zicheng walking in with a smile on his face, everyone couldn't help but talk about him.

"What the hell is going on with you, now on the side of Naturalization City, we are already a general, and life is not as sad as before, why do you still stand up?" Gao Yingxiang first said with a little blame.

Li Guo was also worried, and then said: "If the governor orders the general, it is impossible, but uncle, you went to rob the general, why is this?" ”

"Brother Li, you just want to be knighted like this? How many generals in the dynasty can be knighted? Shen Yikui also shook his head and sighed, "What's the point of just giving you about a thousand troops this time?" If you think about it with your toes, you know that the people above just want to try it out, and they don't pay much attention to it! ”

Shen Yiyuan looked at Li Zicheng, pointed at him with his finger and said, "You have always been smart, why are you stupid this time?" This is in the Hetao, and then in those desolate places in the north, can we Han people go? In such a desolate place, how much attention will the court pay attention to, and how much can the emperor pay attention to it? To expand the territory, there must be someone who can pay taxes! Let me tell you, nine times out of ten, when you come back, you don't know what the Year of the Monkey is, and whether the emperor can remember this is a question! ”

“……”

Listening to their various words, Li Zicheng was not annoyed, still with a smile, first stepped forward to grab the freshly heated wine jug, tried the temperature, and felt that it was okay, so he tilted his neck and drank happily. After drinking all the wine in the flask, he dropped the flask and laughed loudly: "Happy, happy!" “

When all these people present saw it, they couldn't help but look at each other, I don't know how Li Zicheng was so happy!

The atmosphere of the scene was so messed up by Li Zicheng, and he couldn't help but feel a little weird. Li Zicheng, as the party concerned, looked happy, but the bystanders were worried, confused, puzzled, and so on.

Gao Yingxiang was a little depressed, and when he was about to say more, Li Zicheng spoke first: "Your Excellency the Governor has an order, this time I will go north, not with my original subordinates, but from the selection of suitable subordinates from various armies......"

Before he could speak, Gao Yingxiang finally spoke, and said with a little annoyance: "That's it, make you happy?" ”

Although the selection of subordinates from various armies is indeed conducive to Li Zicheng's northward completion of the errand, but this benefit is so happy?

Li Zicheng listened, looked at his uncle with a smile and said: "In addition, the governor said that the emperor's decree is for me to bring my middle-level officers into Beijing to face the saint, and we people will take classes in the Beijing Division Junior Military Preparation Hall, and the emperor will personally teach and explain all matters of the Northern Expedition." This winter, it is estimated that it will be spent in Beijing. Wait for the weather to get warmer next year, and then start the expedition. “

As soon as they heard this, everyone immediately showed a look of surprise, and their mouths opened as if they could stuff an egg. Then, immediately, they all asked excitedly.

"What? Enter Beijing to face the saint, or the emperor himself teaches? ”

"It's impossible, how can the emperor teach in person? It's never been like this before! ”

"yes, what is this? This is the birth of the Son of Heaven! ”

"I didn't expect the emperor to attach so much importance to this matter! I don't have to say, Brother Li, if you can come back, the emperor will definitely give you a knighthood! ”

“……”

Hearing that their attitude towards himself before and after was so big, Li Zicheng smiled even more happily. He didn't interrupt them, just smiled and listened to them, watching them with a look of surprise and envy in enjoyment.

After a long while, after the excitement of the people present finally eased a little, Li Zicheng said to Li Guo: "Your Excellency the Governor also said that the emperor will give me the kind of ability you have this time, so that although I went to the far north, I can directly report the military situation to the emperor as soon as possible." ”

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then looked at Li Guo, and immediately understood what was going on. At this moment, everyone was suddenly not calm again.

To be honest, Li Guo's magical communication ability, the ability to reach the front of the emperor, made them not know how envious they were. Li Guo is the best one among them, not that he has the strongest ability, but because he has this ability! It's just that they can't envy this ability, so they can only sigh at Li's good life.

But at this time, they heard that Li Zicheng would also be endowed with this ability by the emperor, this kind of ability that was simply a fairy-like means for people they didn't know, at this moment, they suddenly felt that it was worth paying a big price. In this way, the eyes they looked at Li Zicheng were full of envy, and even faintly jealous.

Many of the people present had a sudden realization at this time. Among them, Gao Yingxiang even said: "You are so proactive in the lobby, shouldn't you have known these benefits for a long time?" ”

As soon as they heard this, others thought that Li Zicheng was smart and steady, but he did such a thing, no wonder there was such an abnormal thing, he must have known that there were many benefits!

Who knew that Li Zicheng heard this, but he shook his head with a smile and said: "I am not the confidant of the Governor, and there is no backstage in the court, how could I know these things in advance!" ”

As soon as he heard this, Shen Yikui was not convinced, and immediately asked: "Then how can you stand up so actively, after all, everyone can know that what the Governor said earlier is really not something that ordinary people can do!" ”

The others nodded their heads, and this was indeed the reason. If it weren't for the Governor's emphasis on the difficulties, some of them would have had fewer worries, and perhaps they would have been able to stand up!

When Li Zicheng heard this, he still replied with a smile: "Although I don't know, but actually, it's not difficult to guess......

As soon as they heard this, some people were not convinced, but they didn't speak, just listened attentively to Li Zicheng and continued to explain.

“…… I don't know if you have paid attention to the current emperor? Li Zicheng said with admiration in his words, "Our emperor is the lord of Zhongxing, and what he has done after ascending the throne has far surpassed that of previous emperors." If nothing else, let's just talk about this loop, even if it was occupied before, it wouldn't last long. But now you see, the emperor's means of governing the Hetao, Meng and Han learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses, and treat everyone equally, from such a foundation, who can take the Hetao away from the hands of the Ming Dynasty? “

"Also, all the ethnic groups in the eastern Mongolia have also been cleaned up by the emperor, and they have changed the previous situation of forming an alliance with Jianyu, and they have all been integrated by my Ming Dynasty. The entire grassland will be owned by my Daming! ”

Hearing Li Zicheng's words, Li Guo and the others couldn't help but calm down and think carefully about what they knew. He was personally involved in the affairs of Western Mongolia, and under Li Zicheng's explanation, he also faintly realized the emperor's ambitions.

"You don't know if you have paid attention to the war in Liaodong, the emperor has decreed that Liaodong in the future will no longer be under the autonomous jurisdiction of the capital, but the provincial system, and the same jurisdiction as Guannai, what does this mean? The emperor attaches great importance to the land of Liaodong! Li Zicheng ignored them and continued, "Also, do you know the situation in North Korea? In my opinion, there will be no more Korean vassal states in the future, but only a province of my Ming Dynasty! ”

“……”

Listening to Li Zicheng say so many things, Shen Yiyuan and the others couldn't help but feel a little emotional, when they only paid attention to the one acre and three points of land in front of them, Li Zicheng was paying attention to things outside the Hetao, probably, this is the gap!

Li Zicheng gave many examples, and finally asserted: "Therefore, I felt at that time that the emperor was definitely not a whim for the wild land in the north!" ”