Zhou Yanru walked on the road to the Qianqing Palace, although he walked in a hurry, but in his gestures, he showed his demeanor. He is not yet fifty, in his prime, with a dignified appearance, and at the age www.biquge.info of twenty, he has been the champion of the Zhonghui Yuan, a typical Jiangnan genius.

In June of the sixth year of Chongzhen, Zhou Yanru was forced to resign due to illness, and at this time he entered the cabinet again, and he was in a high position as the first assistant.

The country is in a difficult situation, several first assistants have done nothing, Chen Xinjia has insufficient qualifications and reputation, looking at the sea, the position of the first assistant, who else is me?

Thinking of this, with Zhou Yanru's city mansion, he also felt a little fluttering.

Zhou Yanru's return to power is the embodiment of the favorable time, place and people, with the trust of the emperor and the support of various political forces such as Donglin and the Eunuch Party. In particular, Donglin's stamina, represented by Zhang Pu, pinned his hopes on Zhou Yanru and advised: "If the public is represented, it will be easy to get the same way, and you can regain your virtuous reputation." ”

Because of the support of the monarchs, Zhou Yanru also paid attention to meeting the needs of all parties, and he was already operating, recalling Donglin Party members Zheng Sanjun, Liu Zongzhou, Fan Jingwen, Ni Yuanlu, Li Banghua and others to the court.

At the same time, because the eunuchs never raised their heads when Wen Tiren was in power, they pinned their hopes on Zhou Yanru, and when he came back, he made a lot of strength, Zhou Yanru lived up to expectations, and at the same time operated with Ma Shiying as the governor of Fengyang, and was called a virtuous man at home and abroad for a while.

Courtesan Zhou Yanru rejuvenated his skillful hands, quickly eased the internal turmoil of the various factions of the Ming Dynasty, and made Emperor Chongzhen Longyan happy, and the emperor placed great hopes on him, and even derogated the respect of the emperor and worshiped Zhou Yanru, saying: I listen to Mr.

Zhou Yanru has not been the first assistant for a long time, he has been praised all over the world, and the spring breeze is proud, at this time he hurried forward, while thinking, the saint urgently summoned the ministers, what is the matter?

Like Wen Tiren, Zhou Yanru has always been good at figuring out and catering to the emperor's thoughts, and when his mind moved slightly, he already understood the meaning of the emperor's summons.

First, it must be for Jinzhou, which is a cliché, and second, it may be a thief in the mainland.

Where are the thieves, most of them are in Henan, Shaanxi and other places, especially in Henan......

Henan!

Zhou Yanru pondered deeply, the Holy Lord's summons was so urgent, it seemed that the situation in the place was not good.

His heart sank, and the figure of Li Xianfeng, the governor of Henan, flashed in his mind.

Ren Shoufu came, and Li Xianfeng also vigorously welcomed him, especially because he was also a member of the Donglin Party.

Intellectually, he told Zhou Yanru that if things in Henan were not good, he should give up Li Xianfeng as soon as possible and get rid of his involvement. Anyway, when he first became the first assistant, he was responsible, and it was also slight, and it would not affect the emperor's perception of himself, but it was just ......

At this new first assistant, the world is paying attention, if Li Xianfeng is given up, I hope that all members will inevitably have a sense of sadness for the rabbit and the fox, which will be greatly detrimental to their own fame and cultivation......

In the blink of an eye, he had already prepared several sets of countermeasures.

Under the guidance of the lieutenant, Zhou Yanru finally came to the gate of the Qianqing Palace, he subconsciously paused, straightened his clothes, and entered with dignity.

In the cabinet, Emperor Chongzhen is pacing back and forth with a calm face, in addition, there are many cabinet ministers standing solemnly, such as Chen Xinjia, the secretary of the military department, Li Rixuan, the secretary of the ministry, Li Zhiwen, etc., and there are cabinet ministers Wei Zaode, Chen Yan, etc.

Seeing Zhou Yanru arrive, all kinds of eyes were cast at him, among which Chen Xinjia was indignant, and he took the throne of my first assistant!

Li Rixuan and the others were expressionless, and Wei Zaode and Chen Yan had gloomy expressions.

Wei Zaode was a protégé of Xue Guoguan, because Zhou Yanru's henchman Wu Chang played a role in Xue Guoguan's death, so Wei Zaode hated Wu Chang very much, and was always looking for an opportunity to avenge the master, and he even hated Zhou Yanru together.

And Zhou Yanru usually despised Chen Yan, and Chen Yan hated him, but Zhou Yanru was in the limelight, and the two wisely chose to avoid the edge for the time being.

In the eyes of everyone, Zhou Yanru looked calm and calm, he enjoyed these gazes, everyone's envy, jealousy and hatred also made a playful smile float at the corner of his mouth, at this moment, the irony, disdain, and arrogance in the smile are the most intelligent expression experts, and it is difficult to decipher.

People say that the height is not cold, but I know that this inner taste is so wonderful and intoxicating!

That's the beauty of power.

When facing Emperor Chongzhen, Zhou Yanru's expression instantly turned to panic and respect, and he was meticulous in his salute.

Emperor Chongzhen hurriedly came over and helped Zhou Yanru up with his own hands: "Sir, please get up, with Mr. here, I don't have to worry about it." ”

The emperor's words made Zhou Yanru feel agitated, and after getting up, he had perfect etiquette and greeted the ministers in the field.

After Chongzhen gave the ministers a seat, he impatiently asked the eunuch on duty to let Li Xianfeng play for everyone to watch.

After Chen Xinjia saw it, he snorted coldly: "At the beginning of the year, Uncle Zhongyong once broke the thieves, and only the remnants of his troops fled into the mountains...... It's been half a year, and instead of suppressing and pacifying, these thieves have flourished again, forcing Luoyang and Henan officials to be too incompetent, and even more hateful Tang Bao is unheard, Li Xianfeng people, etc., what are their intentions? ”

As he spoke, he also glanced at Zhou Yanru intentionally or unintentionally.

Emperor Chongzhen's expression became gloomy again, and Li Xianfeng, the governor of Henan, could be described as a bully.

Zhou Yanru looked at the song carefully, looking serious and cautious, and scrutinizing it word by word, but in fact, after sweeping it, the content of the song was already clear to him.

His mind was running rapidly, judging from the recital, and the meaning of the words he had scrutinized, the reason why the thieves were reviving again was that when the thieves were broken, the local government contained a large number of thieves.

These thieves are difficult to change, and the thieves will echo together, and the thieves will respond to each city, almost all of them have internal responses, and often there is no battle, and the city will fall quickly.

Moreover, these thieves, because of the experience of wandering in previous years, caused a consequence, that is, whenever the thieves arrived, they quickly possessed a large number of troops that could fight without training and had a certain combat effectiveness, which was more ferocious than in previous years.

They also have a large number of popular bases, this year Henan is a thousand miles of red land, the people's grievances are boiling, although at the beginning of the year Zhong Yongbo suppressed the thieves uprising, but it is like a volcano, although temporarily covered down, when it erupts again, it is many times more fierce than usual.

What's even more terrifying is that after the thieves occupied the city, they no longer shoveled the city and roamed, but began to send officers to guard the town, and they also set up battalions, trained elite soldiers, and distributed them to the fields, just like those new armies trained by the Ming Dynasty, this is ...... This is a separation, could it be that the thief was beaten by Uncle Zhong Yong and opened the door?

Zhou Yanru had foreseen the terrible nature inside, and the harm they caused to the Ming Dynasty would be even greater.

Because of this, Li Xianfeng and others were caught off guard, and the officialdom accumulated disadvantages, and at the beginning, they wanted to cover the lid. It's just that the thieves have risen too fast, and they have been pressing Luoyang, which is related to the big crime of trapping the domain, so they don't dare to hide it.

As a veteran of officialdom, Zhou Yanru is so smart that he immediately understands the inner clues.

Fortunately, Luoyang was not lost, and Li Xianfeng also urgently sent the chief soldier Chen Yongfu to rescue, and there was still something to be done.

Of course, he didn't dare to say too much, and met the expectant gaze of Emperor Chongzhen.

Zhou Yanru carefully said: "Although Li Xianfeng has the grace of the saint, but the matter of Luoyang is very related, my emperor inherits the heavens and the imperial pole, the martial arts, I hope to focus on the big picture, and blame him for the merits, Li Xianfeng must be grateful and frightened, and he will be loyal to repay the grace of the saint in case of emergency." ”

Emperor Chongzhen's expression changed, but he finally calmed down and paced slowly in the pavilion.

Zhou Yanru told the story, when it came to his heart, calm down, he also found that although Li Xianfeng was guilty, it was not the crime of removing his post and killing his head, and the most important thing at the moment was how to exterminate the thieves who rose again.

Zhou Yanru focused on another point: "The thief is strict with false orders, and he can fool the people with false benevolence, divide the city, organize and train the army, and the momentum will be great, and after a long time, it will become a big disaster, and it needs to be suppressed urgently, which is a matter of the top." ”

Chongzhen's brows furrowed, he was also worried about this, and pondered: "What is Qing's good plan?" ”

Zhou Yanru muttered: "Supervisor Ding Qirui, as the secretary of the military department, is the governor of Huguang, Henan, Sichuan and the north and south of the Yangtze River. The meaning of the micro-minister can be one person, acting as the governor of Ding Qirui, the trilateral military affairs of Shaanxi, to suppress the thieves, so as not to erode the situation, this person needs to be strong and convincing......"

Emperor Chongzhen intercepted his words and asked urgently: "Is there a candidate for Qing?" ”

Ding Qirui was recommended by Yang Sichang at that time, he was a scholar, indecisive, not to mention the slow progress of the thief, and recently he has lost his soldiers. Although Emperor Chongzhen still believed in him, he also felt that he needed one person to take care of the trilateral affairs.

Zhou Yanru was about to speak, when Chen Xinjia said loudly: "Your Majesty, the minister recommends one person to take on this important task." ”

Zhou Yanru immediately smiled and was silent, but Emperor Chongzhen was displeased: "Chen Qing's personal feelings are too distracting. ”

He frowned slightly: "Who?" ”

Chen Xinjia said: "It is Fu Zonglong, the former secretary of the military department." ”

Emperor Chongzhen's brows were even more furrowed, Fu Zonglong had a strong temperament and a short temper, he never liked it, and when Chongzhen was thirteen years old, he impeached Yang Sichang for wasting the country in vain, and could not repay the service, so he was angry with the courtiers, Chongzhen was angry, and he was imprisoned.

Chen Xinjia hadn't noticed Emperor Chongzhen's expression, and was busy explaining: "Fu Zonglong is prestigious, good at controlling, far from ordinary ministers, with the three sides of the governor of Shaanxi, the thief will definitely be wiped out in one go." ”

Chongzhen snorted coldly: "Fu Zonglong is arrogant and arrogant, and I endure in every way, this person ...... Hum. ”

Zhou Yanru also persuaded at this time: "Your Majesty, although Fu Zonglong thinks very highly of himself, his talent is acceptable, and the thief has already set the prairie on fire, and I hope that Your Majesty will put state affairs first." ”

Zhou Yanru actually helped himself speak, which made Chen Xinjia look at him strangely.

After thinking about it, Chongzhen finally hated and said: "Okay, I will pardon Fu Zonglong, the secretary of the military department, and supervise the Shaanxi soldiers to fight the thieves with the right attendant, Li Xianfeng strictly reprimanded him, and punished him for one year, and blamed him for his crimes, if the matter in Henan deteriorates again......"

"Your Majesty."

Zhou Yanru secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, Li Xianfeng, the governor of Henan, finally escaped, and he also had an explanation for himself.

At first, when Chen Xinjia recommended him, the ministers were also moved and wanted to recommend the candidate in their hearts, but they were keenly aware of the emperor's expression towards Chen Xinjia, and they stopped talking one after another, obeying the emperor's treatment of Zhou Yanru, and they were jealous in their hearts.

Finally, the matter of Jinzhou was discussed......

When the strength of the two sides is similar, there is no other magic formula except for face-to-face hard fighting, and everyone talks about some clichés.

Hubu Shangshu Li waited to ask and began to complain again: "There are many soldiers and salaries, and it is difficult to support grain and grass, the emperor, Weichen is still the same sentence, the matter of Jinzhou should be resolved quickly." The minister asked the emperor to decree that Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, and the loyal and brave Bowang Douren, etc., should fight a decisive battle with the slave as soon as possible! ”

Chen Xinjia immediately objected: "Absolutely not! ”

He said eagerly: "Your Majesty, the soldiers are in danger, and one carelessness is the result of the loss of the elite." Uncle Zhong Yong has made it clear that it is difficult for our food and grass to support, and it is even more difficult for thieves and slaves, as long as we hold on to each other, we will definitely win without a fight, so why take this risk? ”

Li Zhiwen angrily shouted at Chen Xinjia: "This soldier said lightly, just hold on, dare to ask, where does the grain and grass come from?" ”

Chen Xinjia yelled at him even louder: "Lord Li, if the army is damaged, who will bear the responsibility?" You? ”

Listening to the cabinet arguing, Emperor Chongzhen stroked his forehead and felt a headache, every time it was like this, everyone had no way to deal with it except quarreling and quarreling.

He was irritable in his heart, and was about to ask the opinion of Zhou Yanru, the first assistant of the cabinet, when Li Rixuan, the secretary of the ministry, suddenly said: "Your Majesty, forgive Weichen for his courage, Weichen thinks that the time has come for my king to fight a decisive battle with slaves." ”

For a moment, everyone's eyes were on him.

Li Rixuan said indifferently: "You ministers may have heard that the 100,000 loyal and brave army has been sent out of the army and directed at Jinzhou!" Now the slave of Jinzhou is panicked, this is a God-given opportunity, can be met but not sought, at this time without fighting, is it not in vain? ”

There was an eerie calm in the pavilion, and Emperor Chongzhen's right hand could not help but tremble, especially when he heard the 100,000 troops.

The news outside the plug is getting more and more into his ears, and he doesn't know who is adding fuel to the fire, and many officials are also moved by the news, impeaching Wang Dou for raising private soldiers, opening the border without permission, etc., these performances, Emperor Chongzhen are all left behind.

After a long time, Chen Xinjia said indignantly: "It's really a bunch of nonsense, a bunch of nonsense!" It's ridiculous, where did Wang Dou get the 100,000 army? Elder Li Ge, you are a cabinet minister, how can you listen to rumors and do such an idle woman in the market? ”

In the face of Chen Xinjia's attack, Li Rixuan was not angry, and only said lightly: "Even if there are no 100,000, there will always be 1 or 20,000, right?" It is groundless, but it may not be silent. ”

Chen Yan, the cabinet minister, also said with a smile at this time: "Loyal and brave uncles have good means, and they have made so many strong divisions and strong teams quietly, and they are worthy of being the pillars of the country." ”

Everyone's heart-wrenching words made Chen Xinjia's elegant face distorted: "Suspicion of good ministers and slander of generals, this is what you are doing?" ”

He flicked his sleeves and said sharply: "The vertical son is not enough and the plan!" ”

Li Rixuan drank tea indifferently, and Emperor Chongzhen also looked at Chen Xinjia silently, with an inexplicable light flashing in his eyes.

He said softly: "Chen Qing is a little restless, I naturally know the loyalty of Uncle Zhongyong, or listen to what Shoufu has to say." ”

Zhou Yanru has been quietly listening to the arguments of the cabinet ministers, and he has also focused on Wang Dou, although the emperor has always taboo "Tongnei" and "Pengbi", but the current cabinet ministers, without the support of the generals, are not stable in the cabinet, if Zhang Juzheng also needs Qi Jiguang to invoke back then.

After Wang Dou rose, he has been wandering away from the outer edge of the factional struggle, and he can't guess his inner thoughts with Zhou Yanru's city government. Many people think that Wang Dou is Yang Sichang and Chen Xinjia, but in fact, Zhou Yanru knows that it is more Chen Xinjia and others who use Wang Dou's light.

For Wang Dou, the support of the ministers outside, yes, is also the icing on the cake, no, it does not prevent him from continuing to be promoted and rich, becoming the focus of the Ming Dynasty and the pillar of the country.

For Zhou Yanru, he will not easily offend powerful martial artists, especially martial artists like Wang Dou.

Although he represented the Donglin Party, Wang Dou did not do anything to openly offend the Donglin Party for many years, although he had previously slashed and killed a group of literati, merchants, and warriors on the East Road, and those were also those people who violated his interests.

It can also be seen on weekdays that Wang Dou is still easy to get along with, although the greater the power, he has not done anything to infringe on the entire literati class, although he is a little arrogant, but in the current Ming Dynasty, this is a very normal thing.

The entire Donglin Party Group's attitude towards Wang Dou is to observe his words, observe his deeds, and pay attention to it silently.

Zhou Yanru also did not have the intention of striving for Wang Dou as foreign aid, and it can be seen in the cabinet today that the attitude of the Ming monarchs and ministers towards Wang Dou is to rely on respect and fear, and even the emperor's opinion of Chen Xinjia has changed.

However, because of Wang Dou's foreign aid, Chen Xinjia's status is still as stable as Mount Tai, and Wang Dou will not fall down for a day outside, he must still live firmly in the cabinet, and at most he will be refrigerated by the emperor. But if something happens outside, Chen Xinjia will definitely need to come out and clean up.

As a veteran of officialdom, Zhou Yanru is good at catering to the emperor's wishes, and the fact that the Liaodong soldiers were blackmailed made him promoted from a squire to a university scholar, and now he is ......

Zhou Yanru was sure that the emperor was impatient with the war in Jinzhou, especially in the case of the resurgence of the thieves, he urgently needed to send elite soldiers back to the hinterland to deal with the thieves, and he could not tolerate the consequences of the vassal king's loss.

Thinking of this, Zhou Yanru said respectfully to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the thieves are rising again, and the war in Jinzhou cannot be delayed." ”

Chen Xinjia still wanted to speak, but when he came into contact with the emperor's stern gaze, he had to remain silent.

Zhou Yanru smiled at Chen Xinjia gently, and continued: "...... Passers-by said that Zhongyong Bo sent 100,000 teachers and forced Jinzhou outside the Saiwai, which is absurd! At most, when the loyal and brave man went to Liaodong, he made some township brave regiments practice to harass them as a support, which was a strategy to attack the east and the west. In the battle of Jinzhou, all the young and strong troops outside the Saiwai were empty, and the northern captives were unstoppable, so they made fearful words, and their general trend was proclaimed, or there were suspicious intentions. ”

Chongzhen couldn't help nodding, Zhou Yanru's analysis was reasonable, and it went straight to his heart.

Zhou Yanru continued: "However, this plan has also received good results, and the northern captives are panicked, and it is difficult to have the will to fight. ”

Zhou Yanru said slowly, the ministers were either silent or submissive, only Chen Xinjia muttered: "Loyal and brave uncle, it is not yet the time for a decisive battle." ”

Li Rixuan glanced at him and said lightly: "This soldier is loyal and brave when he opens his mouth and closes his mouth, and he is also a Ming official and general, and his majesty's courtier, do you dare to openly disobey the order?" ”

Chen Xinjia snorted and repeated the previous words: "...... If the army is damaged, who is responsible? ”

Chongzhen glanced at the two of them, looked displeased, and said to Zhou Yanru: "Mr. continues." ”

Zhou Yanru said respectfully: "Weichen respects the order." ”

He continued: "Fang Cai Ben Bing said, Zhong Yongbo believes that the battle of Jinzhou has not yet reached the time for a decisive battle. Indeed, since the beginning of the Zhongyong Uncle, he has won a hundred battles, and when it comes to marching and fighting, it is clear that there is no one who is the right, but after all, he is a military minister, and he may have a short ...... about the strategy of the DPRK and the overall situation of the country."

He said: "Of course, the loyal and brave uncle fought for the country, fought on the bloody battlefield, and worked hard, and Weichen thought that he should be rewarded heavily, and he was greatly promoted, in order to make persistent efforts, and he was promoted to a special honor, and another ......."

Zhou Yanru said: "The chief soldier Yang Guozhu and others, brave and resourceful, loyal and sincere, enough to be grateful, should also be awarded another award to encourage the future." ”

Finally, Zhou Yanru knelt down and kowtowed: "The minister is the minister of His Majesty, a heart of ice, only for the court, all kinds of words, national affairs, are all from the heart, please Your Majesty's sacred heart**." ”

The ministers in the cabinet, Chen Xinjia and others also knew that the matter of Jinzhou should be broken, and they all knelt down and kowtowed: "Please Your Majesty Sacred Heart**." ”

Emperor Chongzhen stood up, thinking in his heart: "The matter in Jinzhou has been delayed for a long time, and now it is time to make a decision." ”

……

September 15, 14th year of Chongzhen, Jinzhou, on the north bank of the daughter river.

The west section of the Rufeng Mountain, at this time three miles away from the river, has been captured by the Ming army, the Ming and Qing dynasties, across the curved and complex trench and trench wall to confront each other.

The Qing army camps fluttering various flags, from south to north, densely packed, have spread to the periphery of Jinchang Fort.

The confrontation between the armies, of course, is not a sit-still stillness, and the daily skirmishes never stop, or the infiltration and counter-infiltration between the scouts, or the repeated contention of the various sections of the walled walls and trenches, often only taken by the white **, and in the evening, I launched a night raid to recapture the lost stronghold.

In the tug-of-war between you and me, both sides are constantly bleeding, many soldiers are exhausted, and the continuous rotation of troops has become a must for both sides.

The camp around Jinchang Fort, because it is in the hinterland of the Qing camp, seems to be generally calm, and many of the Qing soldiers who come and go here are not wearing armor, or even helmets, revealing their blue scalps and slender money rattails on the back of their heads.

The weather is getting colder and colder, and they have put on cotton robes and warm hats, which are the kind of bowls and hats of the Qing Kingdom in later generations, and the texture is mostly leather, tweed, satin, etc. There is also a kind of cool hat, which is worn in summer, and is shaped like a hat, and is braided into a skeleton with strips, and covered with ayara.

Many people also wear melon skin hats, which come from the ** unified hat of the Ming Dynasty.

At this time, on the head of Jinchang Fort, the dragon flag of the Qing Emperor was flying, and the castle was full of elite Kabush soldiers. As early as after the Twin Mountains were captured by the Ming army, for the sake of safety, Huang Taiji moved his palace to Jinchang Fort, of course, the stronghold of Rufeng Mountain, they did not give up.

In the original garrison hall, Huang Taiji was at the top, his expression was gloomy, and the Manchurian flag lord sat on both sides, as well as the Mengba Banner, and the Han Eight Banners, each of which was solid and true, standing solemnly behind them.

In the official hall, there are also a large number of foreign feudal Mongolian Zasak, Taiji, Tabu Nang and other princely ministers, these outer Mongolian feudal banners, the left wing is headed by Prince Horqin Tushetu Horqin Ten Banners, and the right wing is headed by Chahar Gulun Eju and Shuo Prince Ezhe other Mongolian banners.

There are also several Khans of the Mongol Outer Zasak, such as Tushetu Khan, Zasaktu Khan, Chechen Khan, etc.

Now they looked at the middle of the hall, all with ugly faces, and there, on their knees, a stout Mongol with his back bare-backed, was being beaten with water-soaked leather whips by two sturdy Kabush soldiers.

"Smack!"

The five-foot-long water-soaked leather whip was picked up again, and when the whip came down, there was a long blood mark.

"Smack! Syllable! Syllable! ”

The two Kabush sages who were executed did not have the slightest mercy, and the leather whip was whipped harder than the other, and the whip was heavier than the other.

The Mongol began to grit his teeth and stiffen, trying not to make a sound, but the great pain made him unable to control himself any longer, and began to howl miserably.

With each whip, he howled, and under the heavy whip, his back was already peeling open, and blood was seeping down. (To be continued)