Fengqiu, Wang Pu Xingyuan.

Wang Pu walked quickly, handed the Tang newspaper in his hand to Sun Chuanting and said, "Kaifeng has fallen. ”

"What did you say?" Sun Chuanting was taken aback when he heard this, and said in a lost voice, "Kaifeng has fallen? ”

"That's right." Wang Pu said, "This is the last report sent by Chen Yongfu, the chief soldier of Henan, before the city was captured, the thieves exploded a gap of more than 30 zhang wide in the northwest corner of Kaifeng City, and more than 100,000 thieves swarmed in, Chen Yongfu resisted with the official army for two days, and finally was captured. ”

"Ugh."

President Sun Chuan sighed, sat back in the chair, and didn't speak for a long time.

To be honest, the collapse of the Western Road army stimulated Sun Chuanting greatly, and then the thieves captured Kaifeng, the capital of Henan, and the cold facts are constantly proving that Wang Pu's statement is correct.

"Looks like you're right." After a long time, Sun Chuanting said quietly, "Thieves have indeed become the climate. ”

Wang Pudao: "It's too late to change the strategy. ”

"Son, you go to Guanzhong with me." Sun Chuanting raised his head, looked at Wang Pu with burning eyes, and said in a deep voice, "Let's strive to train an elite army within two years, and there is still a lot to do." ”

"There is no way to survive in Guanzhong." Wang Pu shook his head and said, "Guanzhong is too barren. ”

Sun Chuanting frowned and said, "There are eight hundred miles of Qinchuan in the pass, why is it barren?" ”

Wang Pu said: "If you want to go, I won't go anyway." ”

Sun Chuanting said: "Are you determined to go to Jiangnan?" ”

"Yes, I'm already determined." Wang Pu said, "Whether you agree or not, whether the court allows it or not, I will decide this Jiangnan." ”

Sun Chuanting said: "You dare to disobey the holy decree? ”

Wang Pu smiled: "Do I resist the decree less?" ”

Sun Chuanting said: "Aren't you afraid that the Lord will send troops to kill you?" ”

"Send troops to kill me?" Wang Pu sneered, "Jiannu and the thieves are enough to have a headache for the Long Live Lord, and besides, I didn't pull the flag to rebel, why did he send troops to suppress me?" ”

Sun Chuanting said: "If you resist the order and do not obey it, it is tantamount to rebellion." ”

Wang Pu said: "Old man Sun, you know that this is a troubled time, besides, the general will not be subject to the orders of the foreign monarch, and resisting the decree and rebelling are two different things!" ”

Sun Chuanting said: "As a courtier of the Ming Dynasty, you should be loyal to the monarch and the country. ”

Wang Pu said-for-tat: "In my heart, protecting the people comes first, followed by loyalty to the monarch and the country." ”

Sun Chuanting said: "To be loyal to the monarch and the country is to protect the people. ”

"Two different things." Wang Pu said sharply, "Now the Long Live Lord and those idiots in the court are pursuing the policy of destroying the country, if I listen to them, I will be the sinner of the Han nation!" Old man Sun, if you listen to them, even if you can win the title of loyal monarchy, you will end up being a sinner of the Ming Dynasty and a sinner of the Han nation! ”

Sun Chuanting said, "What did you say?" ”

Wang Pu said coldly: "Old man Sun, father! I'm telling you this, it's because you're my godfather, and I'll tell you the truth, whether you listen or not, I'll be sure of this Cao Sheng! ”

Sun Chuanting said angrily: "Lao Tzu will kill you now!" ”

"Hahaha." Wang Pu looked up to the sky and laughed three times, and said loudly, "Old man Sun, don't overestimate yourself, the person who can kill me Wang Pu has not been born yet." ”

Sun Chuanting suppressed the anger in his chest and asked, "Then you should tell me, what is good in Jiangnan?" Why do you have to go to Gangnam? ”

"Isn't that obvious?" Wang Pudao, "Jiangnan has silk, salt, iron smelting, tea, porcelain and other rich strategic materials, as well as the convenience of shipping, you can trade with the East and Xiyi, Jiangnan also has a huge group of powerful merchants, seventy percent of the taxes of the Ming Dynasty are from Jiangnan, only backed by the rich land in the south of the Yangtze River, there are enough financial resources to train the new army, to have enough financial resources to exterminate the thieves, and to recruit slaves." ”

Sun Chuanting said: "Then we can train in Shandong, and we can still get the financial support of Jiangnan." ”

Wang Pu shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Why did Liu Zeqing's Shandong soldiers mutiny? Do they have the financial support of Gangnam? ”

Sun Chuanting said: "This ......"

Wang Pu straightened his face and said solemnly: "Dad, let me tell you this, if you can't put the whole of Jiangnan under your iron-fisted rule and forcibly implement the new policy, it is impossible for Jiangnan's rich financial resources to be used by you, just like now, most of the wealth has been divided by the powerful businessmen, and the imperial court can only get a little benefit." ”

Sun Chuanting stopped talking, and his mind was already a little loose.

What Wang Pu said is true, the taxes of the Ming Dynasty have been decreasing year after year, but the expenditure has become heavier and heavier year by year, everyone knows what the problem is, but no one is willing to change, to put it bluntly, they are unwilling to change, because those officials in the DPRK and China have reaped the benefits from it, and they are unwilling to make sacrifices.

Wang Pu continued: "Long live the Lord is not a saint, he can't be right in everything, as a courtier, no matter whether it's right or wrong, he only knows blindly obeying, and in the end he may be able to win a reputation for loyalty to the monarch and the country, but in fact? In fact, such courtiers are very selfish, they only think about their own reputation, but they never think that doing so will affect the people of the world. ”

Sun Chuanting Huo Ran turned his head and stared at Wang Pu deadly, this sentence touched him a lot.

Wang Pu met Sun Chuanting's eyes and said calmly: "First there was the Eastern Jin Dynasty and then the Southern Song Dynasty, Huaxia died twice at the hands of barbarians, is it just the fault of the emperor and the ministers who lost the country twice?" Don't those loyal servants have no responsibility at all? No, those loyal ministers are actually responsible, they only know how to sing high-pitched, but they don't know how to use strategies, they personally won the reputation of loyal ministers and filial sons, but the people of the world have suffered and become slaves of the country......"

Sun Chuanting's brows began to wrinkle, Wang Pu's tone was very strange, but after thinking about it carefully, it seemed to have some truth.

"Daddy." Wang Pu looked at Sun Chuanting and asked sincerely, "Wen Tianxiang is a loyal minister who has been praised for generations, but in the end, he can only sigh on the Zero Ding Ocean, and countless Han people have become slaves of the Mongols!" Cao Ying was a powerful minister who was spurned by all generations, but he finally unified the area north of the Yellow River, he attacked Wuhuan in the north, divided the Xiongnu, preserved the vitality of the Han people, and retained the heroic soul of China. ”

"Nonsense." Sun Chuanting said, "How can Cao Ying be compared to Wen Tianxiang? ”

Wang Pudao: "In my opinion, Wen Tianxiang can't be compared with Cao Ying!" Dad, do you want to be a loyal minister who has been praised for all generations but is unable to save the country like Wen Tianxiang, or like Cao Ying, a powerful minister who has been spurned for all generations but can keep the vitality of the Han people? Figure it out for yourself. ”

Sun Chuanting said: "The old man will never be Cao Ying." ”

Wang Puhuo said: "Then you just wait to sigh on the Zero Ding Ocean!" ”

"But the old man is not Wen Tianxiang either." Sun Chuanting's words changed sharply, and then said, "Tomorrow, the old man will go to the court and ask himself to supervise Zhezhi." ”

"That's right." Wang Pu struck the knot and said, "Old man Sun, you are finally enlightened." ”

"Go." Sun Chuanting scolded, "The old man is resolutely not Cao Pi, and you kid don't want to be Cao Pi." ”

■■■

Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Chongzhen was patiently explaining to Empress Zhou: "Queen, first Jiannu Koubian, and then thieves making trouble, Wang Pu has been leading troops to fight, and he can't return to Beijing now." ”

Empress Zhou hurriedly said: "Long live Lord, when will Wang Pu be able to return to Beijing?" His marriage with Ru'er has been dragging on like this, isn't it a solution after all? ”

"Let's do it a little while." Emperor Chongzhen said helplessly, "After a while, I will decree that Wang Pu will return to Beijing and marry Ru'er." ”

Queen Zhou couldn't ask anything more, so she had to leave unhappily, and as soon as Queen Zhou left, Wang Chengen trotted into the hall and said in a low voice: "Long live Lord, Sun Chuanting six hundred miles to expedite the secret play." ”

"Oh?" Emperor Chongzhen said, "Present it." ”

Wang Chengen took two steps forward and handed Sun Chuanting's secret music to Emperor Chongzhen.

Emperor Chongzhen hurriedly read it and couldn't help but change his face greatly, stood up and began to pace back and forth in the main hall, without saying a word for a long time, Wang Chengen on the side was so shocked that he didn't even dare to breathe.

Emperor Chongzhen suddenly paused, turned around and asked Wang Chengen: "Chengen, do you guess what Sun Chuanting said in the secret recital?" ”

Wang Chengen said: "The slave can't guess. ”

Emperor Chongzhen said: "Sun Chuanting said in the secret music that Kaifeng has been captured by thieves, and the whole province of Henan has fallen into the hands of thieves, Zuo Liangyu, He Renlong, and the fierce Guanzhong soldiers refused to enter the thieves because of lack of food, and Liu Zeqing's Shandong soldiers have also mutined because of lack of food, Sun Chuanting also said that with the current strength and national strength of my Ming Dynasty, it is no longer enough to exterminate the thieves in Henan, and he wants me to turn from attack to defense!" ”

"Turning offense into defense?" Wang Chengen was puzzled, "How can you abide by the law?" ”

Emperor Chongzhen said: "Sun Chuanting promoted Wang Qiaonian as the governor of Shaanxi in the secret music, and led He Renlong, fierce as a tiger, and Jiang Ji to defend Shaanxi, Zhou Yuji guarded Shanxi, Cao Bianjiao guarded Shandong, and Zuo Liangyu guarded Huguang. ”

Wang Chengen said: "What about Sun Chuanting himself? ”

Emperor Chongzhen said: "Sun Chuanting asked himself to supervise Zhezhi, and he wants to use the financial resources of Zhejiang and Zhizhi provinces to train an elite army within two years, and then fight to the death with the thieves in Henan." ”

Wang Chengen said: "Long live Lord, is Sun Chuanting's law-abiding a bit wishful thinking?" ”

Emperor Chongzhen said: "Tell me your opinion." ”

Wang Chengen said: "Since the thieves have captured the whole province of Henan, the next step will naturally be to attack the surrounding provinces, it is impossible for them to wait in Henan for two years, so that Sun Chuanting can train the elite soldiers and then go to a decisive battle with them?" Besides, Sun Chuanting supervised Zhezhi and cut off the taxes of the two provinces, so what should the imperial court do? The two provinces of Zhejiang can account for seventy percent of the tax sources of the imperial court. ”

"Don't worry about that." Emperor Chongzhen said, "Sun Chuanting said in the secret recital that if he is allowed to become the governor of Zhejiang, he will never withhold the taxes of the two provinces, and he also promises to double the tax revenues of the two provinces within two years!" ”

"Oh?" Wang Chengen was surprised, "If these words come out of other people's mouths, the slave and maid will definitely not believe it, but Sun Chuanting is not a person who talks about it, could it be that he is preparing to implement a new policy in Zhejiang and Zhizhi provinces?" Otherwise, how dare he boast of doubling taxes in two years? ”

Emperor Chongzhen muttered: "I can still trust Sun Chuanting, he is still loyal to the Ming Dynasty and me, but he can't trust Wang Puzhen." ”

"Master Pony?" Wang Chengen said, "Why does this matter involve the horse master again?" ”

Emperor Chongzhen said: "Sun Chuanting promoted Wang Pu as the commander and training envoy of Nanjing in the secret music, and also said that only Wang Pu can train the new army!" ”

"This ......"

Wang Chengen didn't dare to say anything, although he received 100,000 taels of silver from Wang Pu, he had already said a lot of good things for Wang Pu in front of Emperor Chongzhen, which was enough to repay the favor of 100,000 taels of silver.

"Chengen, you said ......," Emperor Chongzhen asked, "Do you want to allow Sun Chuanting's performance?" ”

Wang Chengen lowered his eyebrows and responded: "This slave doesn't dare to talk nonsense. ”

Emperor Chongzhen frowned and said unhappily: "You just have to say, whether it's right or wrong, I don't blame you." ”

"Hooray." Wang Chengen said with a bitter face, "What did the slave really say? ”

Emperor Chongzhen said: "Say! ”

Wang Chengen was helpless, so he had to weigh the words and said: "If you want the slave and maid to say, now the Manchu Dynasty civil and military is also Sun Chuanting can be used alone, if even Sun Chuanting thinks that he can't deal with the thieves, it will be even worse if he changes to others, so the slave and maid think, you might as well try it according to Sun Chuanting's method, and there is also the matter of the master of the horse being the governor of Nanjing......"

Emperor Chongzhen said: "What? ”

Wang Chengen said: "Long live the Lord may wish to agree to come down, first stabilize the horse master, Nanjing is not comparable to Datong, there are not only six Jiuqing and Kedao Yamen in Nanjing City, but also many imperial relatives, and Sun Chuanting is in charge of him, the master of the horse is similar in Nanjing as in Beijing, and he can't turn the sky no matter how horizontal he is." ”

Emperor Chongzhen said quietly: "But what if Wang Pu really turned the sky of Nanjing upside down? ”

Wang Chengen was startled, and quickly knelt on the ground and begged for mercy: "The slave and maid should die, the slave and maid slap their mouths, long live the lord and the slave and maid and have never said anything......"

"Alright, get up." Emperor Chongzhen sighed and said helplessly, "I don't know if Wang Pu can turn over the heavens in Nanjing, but I know that if I don't let him be the governor of Nanjing, he will definitely make trouble, and it is not impossible to defect to the thieves or even pull the flag to rebel." ”

Wang Chengen echoed in a flattering voice: "Long live Lord Mingjian." ”

"So......" Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said, "You are right, the top priority is to stabilize him first, don't force him to jump over the wall in a hurry, but I have to put a few people around him, I have to know what he is doing in Nanjing, and I can't follow his will in everything, when necessary, hum." ”

When he said the last sentence, Emperor Chongzhen's eyes were already full of murderous intent.

Wang Chengen shivered excitedly, and responded in a flattering voice: "Long live the foresight, the slave admires." ”

Emperor Chongzhen thought for a while and said: "In order to eliminate Wang Pu's vigilance, I have to install a few people on the surface, Zhang Zi'an, a slave and maid, is still loyal to me, and he gets along well with Wang Pu in Datong, so he will be transferred to Nanjing as a town guard eunuch, and the prefect of Datong, Wei Daben, will also be transferred to Yingtianfu as the governor of Yin." ”

"The slave obeys." Wang Chengen replied respectfully, "The slave and maid will go back to the celebrant to draft the decree." ”

"Wait." Emperor Chongzhen said, "This is not a trivial matter after all, it is still necessary to wait until tomorrow morning after the court and the hundred officials have agreed, and then the officials will issue an official document." ”

Wang Chengen said: "Long live the lord, why don't you invite Zhou Ge Lao into the palace first?" ”

"You don't have to enter the palace." Emperor Chongzhen said, "You go out of the palace to the Pavilion Elder Mansion, and tell the Pavilion Elder what I mean." ”

■■■

Caozhou, Sun Chuanting.

As early as the second day when the thieves captured Kaifeng, Sun Chuanting withdrew from Fengqiu with Wang Pu's army and moved towards Caozhou.

Fengqiu is too close to Kaifeng, and it may be attacked by thieves at any time, Wang Pu does not plan to fight with thieves in Henan at all, and the wisest choice is of course to avoid its edge.

Wang Pu strode into the line and asked Sun Chuanting, "Dad, is there any news?" ”

"There's news." Sun Chuanting raised the official document in his hand and said, "The Ministry of Officials has officially issued an official document, appointing the old man as the governor of Zhejiang, and at the same time appointing you as the governor of Nanjing and the leader of the training army, well, there are two of your acquaintances, Zhang Zi'an, the eunuch of Datong Town, has been transferred to the eunuch of Nanjing, and Wei Daben, the prefect of Datong, has also been promoted to Yin of Tianfu." ”

(To be continued)