There is a saying that there are no secrets that can be hidden in the palace......

Chongzhen was in the main hall when he smashed things and vented the anger in his heart. The news that Emperor Chongzhen and the imperial court were once again calculated by Wei Zheng and lost face quickly spread in Beijing like a gust of wind......

Soon, several cabinet ministers who received the news gathered outside the palace and wanted to face Emperor Chongzhen, who was in a state of anger. Because, a few of their cabinet ministers in the huge court participated in the matter of five million taels of silver, and they knew that the truth of the facts was not as rumored.

Soon, several cabinet ministers appeared in front of Chongzhen.

Looking at the few ministers in front of him who didn't say a word, the anger in Chongzhen's heart became even stronger. Because, the idea of asking for silver from Zhang Yan was put forward by several cabinet ministers in front of him.

After slamming his clenched fist on the dragon case in front of him, he scolded loudly at several ministers: "Talk!" Five million taels of silver were taken from Empress Yi'an, and it was you who proposed it to me. And now, the silver is coming, but the reputation of the court and me has been completely ruined......"

"You tell me what the court should do, how to get through this crisis. Otherwise, how can the court and I gain a foothold in the Ming Dynasty and become the orthodox ...... of the Ming Dynasty?"

Under a series of questions from Emperor Chongzhen, the cabinet chief assistant had to stand up and speak.

"Your Majesty, there is a preconceived notion of this kind of thing. In the case of the Haw Par Army has been two times when the news has come completely. In the eyes of everyone in the Ming Dynasty, the more we carry out the meeting, the more suspicious it becomes. The more people believe in the truth of this thing......"

"Could it be that we just watched this unfavorable news for the imperial court come in the Ming Dynasty. Seeing the Tiger and Leopard Army slander the court like this. "Emperor Chongzhen was like an angry lion, staring at the cabinet chief in front of him with a pair ......of red eyes, and asked loudly.

For a while, several cabinet ministers who were a little speechless by Chongzhen's question directly closed their mouths and responded to Emperor Chongzhen's anger with silence, fearing that Emperor Chongzhen would transfer his anger to himself.

Just when the atmosphere in the main hall became more and more oppressive. Emperor Chongzhen had to speak again.

"No, I can't. I am the lord of the Ming Dynasty, and I must not be slandered by a local warlord just like that. I want to take revenge, only in this way can I prove to all the people of the Ming Dynasty that the imperial court is not as difficult as Wei Zheng said......"

In the face of Emperor Chongzhen's heart-rending roar, the head of the cabinet was shocked, and hurriedly reminded.

"Please calm your anger...... The imperial court in front of you has no ability to send troops to fight at all, please consider it carefully, not because of the momentary atmosphere. ruined the entire Ming Dynasty ......"

"Please calm your anger...... For the Ming court, for the future of the court. Please consider it carefully...... "The other cabinet ministers, as if they had been discussed, knelt in the main hall at the same time and said to Chongzhen.

In the face of the minister's persuasion, the anger on Emperor Chongzhen's face not only did not show the slightest sign of dissipation, but became stronger and stronger.

A pair of eyes, staring at the minister in front of him, asked loudly: "If Wei Zheng is allowed to slander the court like this, slander me." Do you think there will be hope for the future of the Ming Dynasty? ”

"Only through the guò war can we tell everyone with facts that the imperial court is not as fragile as everyone imagined, and any economic difficulties in the rumors are all false......"

At this time, the ministers could only respond to Emperor Chongzhen's series of rhetorical questions with silence.

I don't know if Emperor Chongzhen said that he was tired, or he didn't want to play the piano to a group of ministers who were different from each other. After saying this, Emperor Chongzhen also closed his mouth.

The hall was in disarray, and in the blink of an eye, it became silent again.

At this time, Zhang Qianshu, who had dealt with the Tiger and Leopard Army many times and was more and more trusted by Emperor Chongzhen, once again rose to the challenge and stood up. Under the gaze of several pairs of eyes at the same time, he replied in surprise.

"Your Majesty, the old minister agrees with your idea and sends troops to fight...... Not only to fight a battle, but also to choose the Haw Par Army specifically for the opponent of this battle. Only in this way can we prove to the entire Ming Dynasty that the imperial court is not financially dependent on the Haw Par Army, and that without the Haw Par Army, the imperial court can still function normally. ”

"Only in this way will the message that is spreading rapidly in the Ming Dynasty be self-defeating......"

"In addition, the old minister thinks that there are two very important factors in choosing the Tiger and Leopard Army to fight this battle, and they are very beneficial to the imperial court."

"First, when this message spread rapidly, no one, including the Haw Par Army Wei Zheng, would have thought that the imperial court would launch an attack on the Haw Par Army at this time, and they would turn their faces when they said they."

"Second, to attack the Haw Par Army, we can also find some allies who share our goals at a certain level...... There is a saying that the enemy of our enemy is our friend, even if this opponent was once our enemy. But when we have the same purpose, enemies can become friends. ”

Although Zhang Qianshu did not explicitly say this enemy, friend...... Who the hell is it referring to? But to be able to stand in the main hall and be appointed as a cabinet minister by Emperor Chongzhen, these people are not only not stupid, but also very smart.

Therefore, as soon as Zhang Qianshu finished speaking, these people knew that the enemy Zhang Qianshu was talking about was none other than the Houjin Tartar who had a deep blood feud with the Ming Dynasty......

If it was before, after they heard the idea of cooperating with Houjin in the court, they would definitely refuse without thinking about it. After all, they are all people who are familiar with the Four Books and the Five Classics, and they still have the literati quality and backbone that they should have.

However, at this moment, at the critical juncture of life and death in the Ming Dynasty, in order to protect the Ming Dynasty, in order to maintain their identity and status in the Ming Dynasty, they can no longer control so much.

What kind of literati is nothing, in front of identity and status.

Therefore, Zhang Qian said that after playing, these people were all moved, and expressed their thoughts in silence.

Emperor Chongzhen, who was sitting on the dragon chair, also became moved after listening to what Zhang Qian said.

After putting his hope on Zhang Qianshu again, he asked expectantly: "Zhang Aiqing, tell all the thoughts in your heart." Well, I'm rewarded...... No, as long as you have the right idea, the position of the head of the cabinet will be handed over to you from today on......"

Under the simultaneous gaze of several pairs of eyes, Zhang Qianshu hurriedly replied.

"Your Majesty, my lords, the minister's idea is that without the slightest preparation of the Tiger and Leopard Army, with lightning speed, mobilize the Jingying musket troops and attack Liaodong."

"As for the reason for attacking Liaodong, the minister has already thought of one...... The Haw Par Army did not carry out the same policy of dividing land in Liaodong as in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, and the imperial court could launch an attack on Liaodong on the grounds that the Haw Par Army harmed the interests of the gentry and landlords and endangered the ruling power of the imperial court at the grassroots level of the Ming Dynasty. ”

"Liaodong is isolated outside the two provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi, and the strength of the Tiger and Leopard Army really transferred into Liaodong is less than 15,000 people. In addition, the firearms and ammunition used by the Liaodong Tiger and Leopard Army all had to be transported by sea from Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. If the imperial court dispatches a naval army to block this sea route, it will not be long before the Liaodong Tiger and Leopard Army will face a situation of running out of ammunition and food. ”

"Without ammunition, the muskets equipped by the Haw Par Army are not as good as the burning sticks...... When the time comes, the Haw Par Army's firearms superiority will disappear completely......"

"Under such circumstances, the seemingly powerful firearms unit of the Haw Par Army may not even be able to compare with our border troops equipped with cold weapons......"

When the imperial court suddenly launched an attack on Liaodong, it could also contact the Houjin Tartars and the Koreans to launch an attack on Liaodong from three different directions. At that time, the enemy that the imperial court really needs to face will only be less than one-third of the Liaodong Tiger and Leopard Army......"

"However, in this way, the imperial court's plan to continue to buy muskets from the Haw Par Army will be in danger of being interrupted. The deposit that the imperial court has handed over to the Haw Par Army in advance, more than two million taels, will all be lost. ”

Emperor Chongzhen opened his mouth without thinking about it......

"Compared with the safety of the imperial court, two million taels of silver is nothing at all?"

"No, Your Majesty, mobilize the musketeers of the Beijing camp to launch an attack on Liaodong. In addition, we have to contact Houjin and the North Koreans, and in the opinion of Lao Chen, it will take at least a month for everything to be ready. ”

"And we can use this month to buy as many muskets as we can from the Haw Par Army...... Even at critical moments, it is not impossible to take some extraordinary measures......"

"Lao Chen believes that with this month's time, the Beijing camp can be equipped with at least 5,000 musketeers."

"In this way, the imperial court can minimize the losses."

Hearing this, the worried and solemn expression on Emperor Chongzhen's face was already unconsciously covered with a smile. After taking a deep breath, he said to several cabinet ministers, "I have decided to do it......

"In order to ensure the suddenness of the whole operation, I am very cautious to remind everyone that the matter we are discussing here today should not be leaked to anyone, including your family. If you let me know that any of you have leaked the matter, then don't blame me for being merciless to you. ”

"In addition, I have also decided to appoint Zhang Aiqing as the first assistant of the cabinet, and I hope that all Aiqing will work together to assist Zhang Aiqing and strive to let the imperial court tide over the current crisis."

"Zhang Aiqing, since you have become the first assistant of the cabinet, I have decided that this military operation of the imperial court to send troops to Liaodong is completely coordinated and commanded by you...... When and how to contact Houjin and North Korea is all up to Zhang Aiqing, and Zhang Aiqing only needs to report to me secretly once every five days......" (to be continued......