In the first battle of Xuzhou, Henan was hit hard, and was chased by the Western Route Army for twenty miles to get rid of the pursuit. After this battle, the line Guoan reined in the rout, reorganized the men, and waited for reinforcements, and always needed more time to lick the wounds. During this period, the harassment of the main force of the Western Route Army was greatly reduced, and at most it could only be done in the grain road, and the energy that could be involved was continuously declining as the elite cavalry of the Southwest Ming Army continued to enter the Henan battlefield.

The defeat of the line Guoan was all in the eyes of the defenders of Xuzhou, and after Zhang Zisheng's troops took Xuzhou bloodlessly, the army marched towards Kaifeng in great strides.

Out of Xuzhou, through Changge, through the Wei family, a few days later arrived at Kaifeng City. Next, the army collapsed the Kaifeng city wall with mortar artillery, and the army rushed in, and the set goal was initially achieved. And next, sweep the southeast of Henan, gain a firm foothold here, whether it is into Shanxi, or flank northern Anhui, with the Fuxian Chengchi as a stronghold, with those who have arrived one after another from the camp and the western camp, the elite cavalry who were rolling in Henan during the Chongzhen Dynasty, the line of national security can do more and more little.

The Northern Expeditionary Army advanced vigorously in Huaibei and northern Anhui, and although the progress in Henan was a little slower, it was still advancing towards the set goal.

The Qing army in Huaibei and Huainan had no ability to parry, and even had no intention of parrying, and the news was constantly sent back to the Qing court, and the atmosphere in the main hall of the Qianqing Palace became increasingly gloomy. However, compared to the panic of those Hanchen in the early dynasty, the pro-noble ministers who were really able to get in touch with the core ruling layer were all careful and had to be suppressed, how could it be a contradiction.

On the second day of October, the news that Kaifeng fell into the hands of the Ming army came, together with the news of the defeat of Xuzhou by the national security army on the previous line, and the use of the Henan line to contain the canal line was negligible.

According to the previous report, the main force of the Northern Expeditionary Army, after taking Xuzhou, also quickly attacked the boundary of Shandong, although it is not like in Huaibei when the battle can be collected a large area of lost land, but counting on how long the Shandong Green Battalion can hold out, is also a fool's dream, and many of them have opened the door to surrender when they saw the Northern Expeditionary Army in the city. Calculated in comparison, it is already a grade higher than hearing that the enemy will be defeated.

"The central and eastern parts of Yanzhou fell, although the Zhejiang bandits did not continue to the north and west, but Qufu surrendered without a fight, and the wall grass of the Confucian family is said to have gone to welcome Chen Yi to worship the Confucian Temple."

The Middle Route Army of the Northern Expeditionary Army was like a no-man's land in Huaibei, and since entering Shandong, it has not encountered any obstruction worth mentioning. A few days ago, there was news that after the Ming army of Jiangsu and Zhejiang captured the capital city of Yanzhou, the Confucian family of Qufu chose to open the door and surrender as it did when facing the army and the Qing army, and Kong Xingxie, the prince of Yansheng who was canonized by the Qing court, personally went to Chen Wenjun to invite him.

Doni's face was cold, and he hated a family like the Kong family, but there was nothing he could do. Now Qufu is in the hands of Chen Wen, even if it can break the Northern Expeditionary Army and recapture Qufu, if the Qing court does not want to tear its face with the Confucian scholar class, it still has to provide for these annoying guys, who let the ancestors of the family founded Confucianism more than 2,000 years ago.

Holy Teacher, is that joking?

In Mongolia, marriage, canonization, flag weaving and other means were used, and in Han land, the Han method was used to rule, which was the ruling method that the Qing court had always implemented. But the more they were helpless about these wall grasses, the more angry they became, and the more they burned Qufu with a fire, and the idea of killing the two sects of the Confucian family in the north and south grew wantonly in their hearts. It's a pity that they didn't dare to do this with the tyranny back then, so they had to press such thoughts, and they didn't even dare to do it.

With a small clan in a large country, the core population of the Manchu Qing Dynasty was already pitiful, and if they wanted to maintain system governance, they would not dare to make such a break. Sitting on the top of the hall as the chief of staff of the imperial camp, Liu Cheng looked at the faces of these Manchurian relatives and nobles, and felt funny, but he couldn't do anything with the military power in his hands at the beginning, and now he has to put on a loyal and good appearance.

"Lord Wang, as far as the servants know, Chen Wei respected the Confucian Southern Sect in Quzhou back then, but in fact, he was also very dissatisfied with the Confucian Southern Sect's behavior of respecting the Qing Dynasty as orthodoxy, which was nothing more than competing for and stabilizing the morale. I in the Qing Dynasty avenged the revenge of Emperor Chongzhen of the previous dynasty and inherited the orthodoxy of the Ming Dynasty, which is the righteousness of the world. In the Kong family, you still have to be tolerant, at least you can't let Chen Shun, that chaotic minister and thief, go down. ”

The Qing court entered the customs under the banner of avenging Chongzhen, and it was only by virtue of the attack and killing of the thieves who were tortured and plundered and regarded by the Confucian scholars as the enemy of life and death that they initially had the morale of the north. Later, he recognized preferential exemption, sacrificed to the Confucian Temple, and held the imperial examination, but all the means to win over the Confucian scholar class have always been in place.

Liu Cheng said this, Doni was silent, and several Hanchen like Zhu Zhixi in the palace were all admired, especially Shunzhi on the dragon chair, and he couldn't wait to give Liu Cheng a big praise.

However, to be able to help the Kong family is also possible only on the basis of the new army's defeat of the Northern Expeditionary Army. The current situation is more and more unfavorable to the Qing court.

Huaibei and Henan are not mentioned, those two places can be easily given up by the Qing court, and now it is not easy to involve part of the Ming army's military strength in Henan. Shandong is located between Huaibei and Zhili, and the Ming army advanced along the canal, but after arriving in Yanzhou, it did not continue north to Dongchangfu, nor did it enter the provincial capital Jinan, but turned to the east and entered the boundary of Qingzhoufu.

In Shandong Province, the three provinces of Dengzhou, Laizhou and Qingzhou are lined up from east to west on the peninsula. Some time ago, it was reported that after capturing Haizhou in Huaibei, a fleet of the Northern Expeditionary Army soon captured Lingshanwei and Fushan Qiansu in Shandong, clearly intending to use sea control to establish a series of strongholds in the coastal areas. The deep meaning of it really made them deeply frightened.

The Middle Route Army entered the territory of Qingzhou Prefecture, and the Qing court had not received any news of the fall of Qingzhou Mansion for the time being, but they did not dare to report any hope. It's just that he was strangled by the Northern Expeditionary Army step by step, but he was really aggrieved enough, even if the strategy had already been established, it was still being implemented, and not everyone could continue to endure it.

reported the battle situation in Shandong, the pro-noble ministers were all frowning, Chen Wen has always been steady and steady, never rash the enemy, such a character is really difficult to find too big a flaw.

However, just when everyone was in thought, Prince Xian Fushou said loudly: "Your Majesty, the Zhejiang bandits are like this, they plan to take Denglai into their hands after taking Qingzhou, so as to compress the possibility of our superior cavalry of the Qing Dynasty harassing them from the east of the canal." The Zhejiang bandits are full of desire to ensure the safety of the grain road, which is strategically understandable, but from our point of view in the Qing Dynasty, the fields of each banner are all over Zhili, and if the Zhejiang bandits are allowed to enter Zhili, I am afraid that the people of each banner will be unstable and will affect the combat strength of the new army. ”

Manchu enclosure, concentrated in Zhili Province, if the capital is now the core of the Qing court, Tianjin Wei is the industrial center, then Zhili Province is the place of henchmen, Fu Shou said, it is not groundless, at least the Qing court set the plan for a decisive battle in Zhili, many Eight Banners are not very satisfied.

"What do you mean?"

"Fight the Zhejiang bandits in Shandong!"

Fu Shou's words expressed the hearts of many Manchurian relatives and dignitaries present, who had long been dissatisfied with the plan formulated by Liu Cheng, a Han dog, but the threat had not yet reached the eye, and no one wanted to be this early man. But now the spears and swords of the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Ming armies are getting closer and closer to their chests, and sitting back and watching the Zhili enclosure being harassed is not something that everyone can tolerate, and Fu Shou is just their representative.

As soon as these words came out, they immediately received a response from many relatives and nobles, one by one, either advocating that the Qitian be damaged, or advocating that the prestige of the Qing court would be affected after the Ming army of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Zhejiang entered Zhili, and the call for a decisive battle in Shandong, even in the northern part of Shandong, became more and more loud.

Shunzhi was a little hesitant about this, and looked at Sony, this Hesheri clan seemed to be weighing the pros and cons, and then looked at Aobai, the first warrior of Manchuria directly retorted: "The decisive battle of Zhili, as much as possible to lengthen the grain route of the Zhejiang bandits, and use the Mongolian cavalry to harass them, so as to give the new army the best opportunity to attack." This is the strategy set by the Imperial Council, and now it has always been strictly enforced, the two minions of Suke Saha and Line Guoan are incompetent, but they can change the order overnight, and it will not be beneficial to the imperial court! ”

Speaking of the urn, the momentum was as good as ever, and Jidu, Doni, Tunqi, Liu Cheng and others, who had more experience in military affairs, all echoed their words.

Jidu Doni is the president of the new army, or the lord of the banner, or the king of Tunqi and the king of Doluo County, and the family member of the Aixin Jueluo family, but when he saw Liu Cheng speak, Fu Shoudang even pointed at Liu Cheng's nose and scolded: "The Eight Banners are the foundation of the Qing Dynasty, what qualifications do you have to say more?!" ”

Fu Shou took Liu Cheng under the knife, on the one hand, it was the embarrassing identity of bullying him to carry the flag of the Han people, and on the other hand, it was the old grudge of Shaanxi during the rebellion. Unexpectedly, once Fu Shou exited, a trace of contempt flashed between Liu Cheng's eyebrows, and then another rebuke on the dragon chair came first, directly blocking the mouths of Fu Shou and those relatives who echoed Fu Shou.

"Prince Xian, not to mention that the forehead is the banner man of the Manchurian Liu Jia clan, just the Han people, my Qing Dynasty has always been the integration of the Manchu and Han, and now there is no shortage of loyal ministers and filial sons among the Han people who swear to serve the court to the death, even if it is the Wuwei Left Army under your command, the Han army flag is indispensable. I don't want to hear any more dogs, you know?! ”

Shunzhi shouted loudly, although Fu Shou was dissatisfied, but the identity of the emperor was there, mentioning the new army, the relatives and nobles present were no longer willing to support him, and he was isolated for a while, and he had to confess. It's just that after such a toss, the voice of sending troops to Shandong has become much quieter.

The two monarchs and ministers cooperate tacitly, which can be called freezing three feet and not a day's cold. Shunzhi reaped the gratitude of the Hanchens, and Liu Cheng also played the role of a loyal minister, and he suppressed the opposition of the Eight Banners and nobles, which can be described as killing multiple birds with one stone.

Fu Shou's momentum was suppressed, and Ji Du, who was sitting on the side, continued on the topic: "If the army sends troops to Shandong, if it is according to the original plan, it is not impossible to modify it slightly. But now that the Zhejiang bandits have controlled Lushunkou, the sailors are still aggressively attacking the coastal ports of Shandong, according to the eyes of this prince, it seems to be an effective imitation of Mao Wenlong's old skills. To put it mildly, when they control Dengzhou, if the army goes south to Shandong, Zhejiang bandits come from the sea, raid Dagukou, Tianjin is not protected, the capital is shaken, not to mention, the armament is afraid that it will not take long. ”

It is one thing for Chen Wen to be accustomed to fighting steadily and steadily with his troops, but it is not without precedent to use the maneuver of the naval division to fight jointly with the land division. Tianjin Acropolis is the southern gate of the capital, but also the location of the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, the stakes are very high, absolutely called the second most important city under the rule of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, just second to the capital. Once there is a loss, the consequences are unimaginable.

The Tianjin Acropolis must be protected, and the army went south to Shandong, the distance was too far, and once the front and rear were lost, it would be a catastrophe. Jidu made a final decision and ended the discussion of sending troops to Shandong for a decisive battle, but for the General Administration of Machinery Manufacturing in Tianjin, many relatives and nobles inevitably complained to Liu Cheng and Zhu Zhixi, and insisted that this was the mistake of Liu Cheng and Zhu Zhixi, the two minions, which led to today's predicament.

At the end of the imperial meeting, Liu Cheng and Zhu Zhixi walked side by side, one was the chief of staff of the imperial camp, and the other was Han Shangshu of the military department, but they only walked out together in the palace, not even half a word.

It wasn't until he arrived at Zhu Zhixi's house and sat down in the study that Zhu Zhixi complained: "The establishment of the General Bureau of Machinery Manufacturing, mainly hydraulic machinery, but the north is not like Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and the hydraulic power is already barren." At that time, the site was also selected considering that Tianjin Wei was rich in water resources, and it was the only way for materials from the two provinces of Goryeo to arrive in the capital, so it was the best choice. It's good now, those relatives and nobles have put the black cauldron on our heads, which is really hateful. ”

What Zhu Zhixi said was also what Liu Cheng thought, but his position was even more discriminatory against the Han people by the Manchus, and he had long been accustomed to it. However, Zhu Zhixi had this idea, and he was also happy to see it, but it was not good to continue like this, so he could only say with relief: "Fortunately, the emperor knows that we are doing things wholeheartedly and are towards us, or they will not be punished by them." ”

Liu Cheng's words, Zhu Zhixi admitted, nodded, and expressed his approval, but after a blink of an eye, his sorrow showed again, but it looked even better than just now.

"Wash my heart, I heard that the fourth son of the emperor died, and the imperial concubine's health has not been good, and the emperor is a lover, just afraid, only afraid, hey."

Such unbearable things, Zhu Zhixi did not say anything in the end. Hearing this, Liu Cheng also seemed to be infected, and then sighed: "We, the Hanchens who have tried our best to renew the life of the imperial court, have long been regarded as a thorn in the flesh by those relatives and nobles. There is a way that once a son of heaven and a courtier, I am afraid that there will really be a day, we will not be able to end well, let alone the preservation of the leader, but I am afraid that even the parents, wives and children will inevitably be affected. ”

Liu Cheng said this, Zhu Zhixi was moved, but having said that, he couldn't think of any way at this time. But the sense of crisis took root in his heart, which was what Liu Cheng was most willing to see.

All kinds of people in Beijing have all kinds of thoughts, but the Northern Expedition of the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Ming armies did not stop at all, and they were advancing every day.

The Qingzhou capital city was recovered, and the two prefectures of Denglai were also quickly attacked by the Ming army, and the ships of the Qing court in Shandong were forced to retreat to the mouth of Dagu, only to be attacked again by the Ming army's Lushun detachment in the Miaodao Strait north of Dengzhou. The battleship Roger Yang crushed the Qing court's sailors' sand ships like a giant, and very few of the Shandong sailors were able to escape, and even Dengzhou City opened its gates to this detachment after the battle.

The three provinces fell into the hands of the Ming army, and as Fu Shou expected, the Central Route Army quickly launched an offensive against Jinan after ensuring the safety of the Shandong Peninsula.

Tai'an, Xintai, Laiwu and other counties in the south, Jinan Fucheng in the center, and Li Zhifang's hometown Wudingzhou in the north immediately became the targets of the Central Route Army's attack.

In this regard, the Qing court can no longer wait, the new army to go south to break the enemy, but also to take into account the two cities of Beijing and Tianjin, now the army is gathered in the capital, Tianjin Wei there is only one Wuwei right army, south to Tianjin Wei, blocking this south gate, it has become the current necessity.

Although the command still has to rely on Aobai, Liu Cheng and the presidents of the various departments of the new army, and coordinate these people, it is a symbol at best, but the need to twist the new army into a rope and prevent those princes from becoming bigger still exists, and Shunzhi has to reluctantly make it difficult.

On October 14 of the thirteenth year of Yongli, outside the camp of the Praetorian Guard, Shunzhi was dressed in armor and stood on the point platform with a group of court officials and new army generals.

Zhu Zhixi, the Han Shangshu of the Ministry of War, recited aloud, showing off the orthodox status of the Qing court, showing off the great martial arts of the Eight Banners Army and the strong combat effectiveness of the New Army, and then talking about the rich rewards after defeating the Northern Expeditionary Army, which can be called all-encompassing. However, the south wind was cold, and Shunzhi couldn't open his eyes several times, until Zhu Zhixi's text was read, and Shunzhi issued his last cry.

"Send troops to meet the Zhejiang bandits!"

………………

The state has not been very good in the past two days, and there are a lot of things, and the update is relatively late, sorry.