When Yuan Chonghuan confronted Jiannu in Liaodong, Zhu Youzhen was not idle in Beijing, and he followed the train of thought that suddenly appeared when he was in Yansui, Shaanxi, and he simply drummed up a plant perfume. √∟，

Now he has four large enterprises: Conch Cement, Hisense Glass, Haiyue Soap and Starfish Perfume.

Among them, glass and perfume, take the high-end route, the price of the product is high, the main consumers are all rich and noble, soap is mainly for the people of the country, the price is low, relying on small profits and quick turnover, and cement, mainly purchased by the imperial court, in the Ming Dynasty to build roads, but also to ordinary large households for the construction of houses.

Zhu Youzhen was too busy and did not have time to participate in the daily management of various factories, so he handed over these enterprises to the directors of each factory to take care of them, and Li Cheng supervised them in a unified manner.

On Chinese New Year's Eve, Zhu Youjian was idle, and in the evening, he spent the reunion year with Zhou Yufeng, Wan'er, and Hu Xinxue in Kunning Palace.

From the beginning of the first lunar month, Zhu Youzhen met with the senior officials of the six ministries separately in the name of celebrating the new yuan, and until the tenth day of the first lunar month, during which he also specially met with Qin Yongnian, the commander-in-chief of Shandong, and Wei Xin, the commander of the North Sea Fleet.

On the fifteenth day of the first month, Zhu Youzhen began the court meeting. Because it was the first court meeting of the new year, and the new yuan had not yet completely ended, the scale of the court meeting was very small, and the participants were limited to the six Shangshu and the left and right squires, plus the left and right imperial history.

The whole country of Daming was on holiday, and there was nothing important about the court meeting, but Zhu Youzhen officially threw out the plan of the Northern Expedition at the court meeting.

There are three routes in the Northern Expedition: the middle route is the first group army under the command of Yuan Chonghuan, under the jurisdiction of the first, second, and third three new armies, about 100,000 people, the middle route army is the main force of the Northern Expedition, from Guangning to the east, after crossing the Sancha River, it will follow the line of Gaizhou, Yaozhou, Haizhou, Anshan, and Liaoyang, pointing to Shenyang, the capital of Jiannu;

On the right is Weixin's North Sea Fleet, the navy of the North Sea Fleet is basically useless, but the North Sea Fleet has three marine divisions, which will land in Lushun or Jinzhou under the cover of naval guns, and will join Mao Wenlong's Dongjiang Army to recover southern Liaoning, and meet the Central Route Army to cross the Sancha River.

The Left Route Army was also three newly formed armies, 100,000 people, they went out of the Xifeng Pass of the Great Wall, first annihilated the three Mongolian Duoyan troops outside the Xifeng Pass, and then crossed the Liao River to the east and attacked Shenyang.

Zhu Youzhen estimated that it would not be difficult to get these high-ranking officials to agree to his Northern Expedition plan, and he was ready, in case the courtiers did not agree, he would have to make a decision, no matter what, the Ming Dynasty should be revitalized, and the Jiannu must be eliminated.

Perhaps Zhu Youzhen had already done a lot of work when he met them alone in Xinyuan, but at this court meeting, the voice of opposition to the Northern Expedition was not strong.

Huang Liji, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and Li Chunye, the secretary of the Ministry of War, fully supported Zhu Youzhen's Northern Expedition plan, especially Li Chunye, who had been waiting for a long time.

Hubu Shangshu Bi Ziyan and Zuodu Yushi Cao Sicheng are neutral, they do not advocate the Northern Expedition, but Zhu Youzhen must be in the Northern Expedition, and they will also support it.

Those who raised objections were the three secretaries of the Donglin Party: Wang Yongguang, the secretary of the Ministry of Officials, Qiao Yunsheng, the secretary of the Criminal Department, and Li Changgeng, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry. However, this time they did not unite to oppose Zhu Youzhen.

"Your Majesty, does Jiannu have to be conquered? Chengzu had five northern expeditions to Mongolia, and Mongolia was still a national disaster of the Ming Dynasty. Wang Yongguang tactfully raised his own questions.

"Wang Aiqing, Jiannu has repeatedly invaded the south, and the Ming Dynasty has retreated again and again, is there still a way to retreat? Once the Shanhai Pass is breached, Jiannu's cavalry will be able to reach Jingshi in two or three days, and at that time, how will we deal with Jiannu's cavalry? ”

"If His Majesty must advocate the Northern Expedition, the ministers will definitely support it," Wang Yongguang first expressed his attitude, "But Your Majesty, can the Northern Expedition really make Jiannu submit?" Or when the Ming army went on a northern expedition, they surrendered on the surface, but once the Ming army withdrew, they rebelled again. ”

"Wang Aiqing rest assured, Jiannu is different from the Mongols, they are beginning to move closer to our Han people, they have already built a city and garrisoned, as long as we break through their city, at least we can drive them back to Changbai Mountain."

"In this way, there is no problem with the minister." Wang Yongguang returned to the queue.

"Your Majesty, I have a question," Qiao Yunsheng hurriedly stepped out, "This Northern Expedition of more than 200,000 troops, plus the auxiliary soldiers transporting grain and grass materials, I am afraid that there will be no less than 400,000, how much grain will be needed for such a Northern Expedition?" ”

"Haha, Qiao Aiqing's question must be a question from many people," Zhu Youzhen glanced at the ministers, "Yes, the Northern Expedition will cost a lot of money and food." If you don't go on the Northern Expedition, you don't have to spend money and food? Do you know why the Ming Dynasty has dried up its financial resources? ”

“……”

"I tell you, the most important reason is Liaodong, do you know how much silver the Ming Dynasty invests in Liaodong every year? There are accounts in the household department, which are more than five million taels per year. Zhu Youzhen pulled his fingers away, "What about five years?" What about ten years? Jiannu is not destroyed, and Liaodong is a bottomless pit! ”

"Your Majesty, this Northern Expedition will squander the savings of the household department, what if it fails?" Qiao Yunsheng still didn't follow.

"In the war, no one is sure of victory, and we are not going to open up the territory, but to defend the land, Jiannu invaded a large area of land in Liaodong, and killed millions of Han people, Qiao Aiqing took the Ming Dynasty's Yulu, but did not think about his homeland and did not think of the people, is Qiao Aiqing a spy of Jiannu?"

"The minister is dedicated to the Ming Dynasty, why did His Majesty say this?" Qiao Yunsheng let out a "poof" and knelt down in front of Zhu Youzhen, his face flushed.

"Qiao Aiqing spoke, it seems that every sentence is for the sake of Daming, I ask you, that Jiannu is approaching Shanhaiguan, how is Qiao Aiqing going to deal with it? Qiao Aiqing has been an official for decades, has she found a way to deal with Jiannu? ”

"Your Majesty, the minister is not in charge of the military department, so ...... I didn't think about dealing with Jiannu. ”

"I forgot, Qiao Aiqing is in charge of the Criminal Department, and the matter of the Northern Expedition is not originally within the Criminal Department-you get up first and step aside."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Qiao Yunsheng got up from the ground and retreated to his place.

Li Changgeng had yet to put forward some objections, but seeing that Zhu Youzhen's attitude was extremely resolute, knowing that it was useless to oppose it, he was ready to surrender to Zhu Youzhen, "Your Majesty, who will lead the troops in this left route army?" ”

"This ...... You don't have to worry about it for a while, you'll know when the time comes. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty." Li Changgeng acquiesced in the Northern Expedition proposed by Zhu Youzhen.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Huang Xiaofu returned to Beijing from Shenyang.

He first came to the household department, handed over the silver and chicken blood orbs presented by Huang Taiji, Daishan, and Dolgon to Shangshu Bi Ziyan, and then took Chasi Ma Jin and asked to see Zhu Youzhen.

Zhu Youzhen met with Huang Xiaofu and Cha Si Ma Jin at the Qianqing Palace.

"See Your Majesty!" Huang Xiaofu respectfully kowtowed three times.

"See Emperor Ming!" For some reason, Chasi Ma Jin also knelt down and saluted Zhu Youzhen this time.

"Haha, get up, all of you! Look at the seats, watch the tea. ”

"Thank you!"

"Emperor Xie Ming!"

Huang Xiaofu and Cha Si Ma Jin both sat opposite Zhu Youzhen's head, and the eunuchs soaked them in the palace's fragrant tea.

"Huang Aiqing, how are the peace talks going? Is Daikin State sincere in peace talks? ”

"Your Majesty, this is the manuscript of the agreement for the peace talks between Weichen and Dajinguo, if Your Majesty agrees......" Huang Xiaofu handed over the agreement that only lacked Zhu Youzhen's signature.

Zhu Youzhen browsed it, "Huang Aiqing, Huang Taiji has signed, so it means that he has agreed?" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, Dajin Guo has agreed to this agreement, just waiting for His Majesty's signature to approve it."

"Huang Aiqing, you also signed, and you also accepted this agreement, right?"

"Your Majesty xià ......" Huang Xiaofu had a premonition that the situation was not good, "This is a ...... agreed upon by Wechen and the Great Khan of the Jin State."

"Huang Xiaofu, how did I explain to you? Is this a peace treaty? The Dajin Kingdom has gained our Liaodong, what about our Daming? What did Da Ming get? ”

"Your Majesty ......" Huang Xiaofu cried with a sad face, but unfortunately there is no regret medicine in the world.

"And this indemnity, the Ming soldiers obviously won a big battle in Liaodong, and even the Jurchen red flag and the blue flag were extinguished, but they need to pay compensation? Wasn't this victory in vain? The more Zhu Youzhen spoke, the more angry he became, he got up from the dragon chair, tore up the agreement manuscript, and threw it on Huang Xiaofu's head.

"Your Majesty xià ......" Huang Xiaofu knelt in front of Zhu Youzhen, his body trembling like a sifting chaff: "Slightly ...... Minister......"

"Don't need Weichen, you are no longer a courtier of the Ming Dynasty," Zhu Youzhen said to Zhang Yixian, the eunuch of the Si Li Bingbi beside him: "Proposed purpose, Huang Xiaofu will cut his post for the people and return to his hometown of Shaanxi." ”

The guards of the inner palace immediately carried Huang Xiaofu and left.

"Your Majesty xià ......" Huang Xiaofu was unwilling.

Zhu Youzhen didn't look at Huang Xiaofu anymore, he waved his hand, and the guards took pity on Huang Xiaofu and trotted out of the Qianqing Palace.

Cha Si Ma Jin saw that Zhu Youzhen tore up the manuscript of the agreement, and lowered Huang Xiaofu's big crime, knowing that the peace treaty was hopeless, "His Majesty ...... Ming Emperor"

"Cha Si Ma Jin, it's none of your business, Huang Xiaofu eats inside and out, harming the national interests of Daming, he deserves it - if Dajin really has the sincerity of peace talks, I will re-appoint personnel to renegotiate with you."

"Emperor Ming, I sent an envoy to the Ming Dynasty this time, just to get the peace talks signed by His Majesty the Ming Emperor, and the Great Khan did not let me come to renew the peace talks." Cha Si Ma Jin was displeased, so the result of the peace talks, will never appear again, if the peace treaty is beneficial to the Ming Dynasty, Tiancong Khan will definitely not sign and agree.

"It's the same, it's the same, wasn't it you who came to talk last time? This time I will re-appoint a suitable person, and you will continue to negotiate peace until a reasonable peace is negotiated. "Zhu Youzhen and Yan Yuese, and the punishment of Huang Xiaofu just now, is completely nine heavens and eighteen layers of earth.

"Emperor Ming," the emperor of the Ming Dynasty seemed to be forcing him to come to the peace talks, "I am not the envoy of the peace talks at all this time, and the Ming Emperor wants peace talks, so he should send an envoy to Shengjing for peace talks again." ”

"Shengjing is so far away, how much time will be wasted when you come and go? Cha Si Ma Jin, you are reluctant to make it difficult, and it is good to come to peace talks on behalf of the Dajin Kingdom - you have not had peace talks! Zhu Youzhen glanced at Fu Xiaojian: "Take Chasi Majin to the post house to rest, recently there have been a group of outlaw thieves in Beijing, who specialize in robbing and killing foreigners, you must strictly protect Chasi Majin." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Fu Xiaojian laughed secretly, and he took pity on the poor Chasi Majin.

"His Majesty the Ming Emperor ......" Cha Si Ma Jin was terrified, and Zhu Youzhen was going to detain him.

Zhu Youzhen waved his right hand, and Fu Xiaojian escorted Cha Si Ma Jin away.

After Cha Si Ma Jin left, Zhu Youzhen took out five hundred taels of silver and asked the guards to secretly hand it over to Huang Xiaofu.

The third day of March in the second year of Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty (1629 AD) was the day of the Northern Expedition of the Ming Dynasty.

The Left Route Army and the Right Route Army were too far away from Liaodong and were the first to set off from Jingshi and Dengzhou.

On the left flank, there were Hong Chengchou's Fourth Army, Mangui's Seventh Army, and Wang Mujiu's Royal First Army, and the three armies formed the Second Group Army, with Zhu Youzhen personally serving as the commander of the group army.

Zhu Youzhen has already made arrangements, during his Northern Expedition, a temporary cabinet will be formed by the six Shangshu, and Huang Liji, as the head of the six Shangshu, will temporarily lead the cabinet.

On the third day of the first month of March, the three armies of the Second Group Army all gathered outside the Desheng Gate of the Beijing Division, and Wang Mujiu, on behalf of the entire group army, slaughtered three fat sheep with his own hands to sacrifice the flag for the Sun and Moon Army.

The three armies thundered and swore to the Northern Expedition.

The members of the provisional cabinet all came to see Zhu Youzhen off, and Zhu Youzhen shook their hands and said goodbye to them one by one.

"Huang Aiqing is in charge of the cabinet, and the responsibility is heavy!"

"Li Aiqing, whether this Northern Expedition can be won completely, the key is to see whether the grain and grass materials can be delivered in time, and it depends on you."

"Wang Aiqing, the Northern Expedition of the Great Army, the time will be long, you have to monitor the officials of the Beijing Division and ensure the stability of the Beijing Division."

……

The six Shangshu all knelt down in front of Zhu Youzhen, "The ministers and others are smeared with liver and brains to imprison the country." ”

"Zhu Aiqing, go back! Daming, I'll leave it to you for the time being. Zhu Youzhen stepped on the horse, pulled the horse's head, and the army immediately galloped towards the Xifeng Pass of the Great Wall.

From Deshengmen to Xifengkou, nearly two hundred miles, most of the roads are on the first avenue from Jingshi to Shanhaiguan, the road is flat, suitable for cavalry marching, and in the evening of the next day, Zhu Youzhen came to Xifengkou with the front army.