Li Shuchu, the governor of the Central Plains, received a report from the imperial court and was overjoyed to learn that the emperor had personally conquered Yanbei and defeated the Qing army.

"More than 100,000 Qing troops were wiped out, and they did a good job." He excitedly circled around the room, slapping him from time to time. It's really happy news, this news spreads, and the world of the Han Empire will be stable.

Without the threat of the Manchu Qing outside the northern passes, the Han Empire was finally able to let go of garrisons in the southeast, southwest, and northwest.

"Pen and ink are waiting, I want to write a letter to the president of the Central Plains."

The Central Plains bandit suppression force led by Zhang Shan and Cai Yuan has been on the periphery of Luoyang during this time. There was even a pause in the suppression of bandits, which was also instructed by the emperor. When the Qing army in the north invaded on a large scale and the new dynasty was established, the tens of thousands of elite troops led by them were not in a hurry to suppress the bandits, but stayed in western Henan to stabilize the surrounding situation, so as to prevent people in Henan, Huguang and other places from making chaos.

Now that the Qing army has been completely annihilated, the situation in the north is stable, and the imperial court can draw out more than 100,000 or 200,000 troops to the south at any time, there is no need to wait any longer at this time.

"It's time."

As the governor of the Central Plains, there are still large areas in the jurisdiction occupied by bandits, which has to be said to be his shame.

At the time of Ming's death, there were more than 20 vassal kings in the world, half of whom were in his jurisdiction.

Shandong has the three feudatories of King Lu of Yanzhou, King De of Jinan, and King Heng of Qingzhou. And there are more in Henan, King Lu of Weihui Mansion, King Zhao of Zhangde Mansion, King Tang of Nanyang Mansion, King Yi of Henan Mansion, King Zheng of Huaiqing Mansion, King Chong of Runing Mansion, King Hui of Junzhou, and King Fu of Luoyang and King Zhou of Kaifeng.

There are nine vassal kings in Henan Province and three in Shandong Province, adding up to twelve vassal kings under his jurisdiction, and there are countless county kings, and there are thirty-six in the Kaifeng Zhou Dynasty alone.

Defeat the bandits in western Henan as soon as possible, and he can also start to clean up these former Ming Sect domains.

The world of the Han Dynasty cannot tolerate these clans of the previous dynasty to continue to be powerful and prosperous in the local area.

Henan, Ruzhou.

Cai Yuan strode into the White Tiger Hall. "Second brother, the governor has issued an order, let us march to Yiyang immediately."

Zhang Shan retracted his gaze from the sand table and said with a smile, "I've been waiting for this order for a long time." Damn, let the thief live a few more days. ”

"Your Majesty's battle in Yanbei is really happy, but it's a pity that we couldn't participate."

"That is, it was personally commanded by His Majesty, Your Majesty has always used soldiers like a god, who in the world can reach it." Zhang Shan pointed the wooden stick in his hand at the sand table. "Lao Cai, you see, since the last time the thieves were defeated by us, they have also withdrawn their troops and horses from Luoyang and other places, gathered in Yiyang, and plan to carry it with us."

"This is a good thing, it saves us from looking for them everywhere, just to concentrate on annihilation."

Zhang Shan nodded and said, "I think the same way, this time we can't let the thieves run away again." We don't need them to help us open the way, now it's the Han world, and after suppressing these bandits, we just happened to march into Guanzhong. ”

"Do you want to catch them all?" Cai Yuan asked. "Is it to annihilate its main force, leave a small unit, and then drive them into the pass, and then we will follow all the way into the pass. Take advantage of the situation to clear those former Ming clans and local gentry? ”

"There's no need for that, our upright Wang Shi is right. No one can stop you. ”

"Order, march to Yiyang early tomorrow morning."

Two hundred miles away, Yiyang.

Liu Jun drove the expedition in person, and the news of the defeat of the Qing army outside the border also reached here.

Hearing that Liu Jun annihilated 200,000 Qing troops in the first battle, and even the Qing auxiliary prince Haoge led his troops to annex, Li Zicheng was shocked and frightened. In the past six months, he has attacked Luoyang for a long time, although he listened to the suggestions of Li Yanniu, Jin Xing, Song Xiance and others, and also set up officials to send officials and open the general's mansion, which once won the support of many poor people.

But he couldn't open the situation for a long time, but it was also a pain in his heart. In particular, Zhang Shan led tens of thousands of elites all the way west, and after defeating them several times in a row, it caused the army to be uneasy.

If it weren't for Liu Jiye's sudden usurpation of the throne and the emperor's reign at a critical time, and Wu Sangui led the Qing army to attack, Zhang Shan might have been killed a long time ago.

But now, Liu Jiye suddenly defeated the Qing army, what this means to break into the army, Li Zicheng knows very well. This means that a large number of elite Han troops will go south from Gyeonggi, which means that Liu Jun will no longer have to worry about the future.

Zhang Shan and they will not stand still again, a large-scale encirclement and suppression is just around the corner.

Li Zicheng is now under his command to consult with the military generals on how to advance and retreat.

Liu Zongmin spoke first, "Luoyang has been attacked for a long time, and the Han army is close at hand, so I think it is better to retreat to the pass first and avoid the edge of the Han army for the time being." ”

His words were supported by many generals, most of whom were from Shaanxi, and seeing that the world was changing masters, the Han army was far superior to the Ming army. Everyone didn't have the confidence to fight the Han army, and they all wanted to retreat first.

"Strategist, what do you mean?" Li Zicheng asked Niu Jinxing.

Niu Jinxing smiled, "Dare to ask the general, what is your ambition?" ”

Li Zicheng didn't expect Niu Jinxing to suddenly ask this, and he was stunned for a moment. He asked himself in his heart, what is my ambition? When he was in the post office, his ambition was only to save money one day, buy a few acres of land and marry a daughter-in-law, and from then on, his wife and children lived on the kang.

It's just that the world is unfair, and in the end he had to defect to the rebel team and became a rogue in the eyes of the court. When he turned to the world, his ambition at that time was to one day be recruited by the imperial court and become an officer. Later, the death of King Lao Chuang made him understand that this idea was too naïve.

On closer thought, it seems that he has never had any firm and lofty ambitions.

Li Zicheng's gaze swept over everyone.

He said slowly, "My ambition is simple, I just want to live. But God doesn't let us live, and the court doesn't let us live, so we can only break this thief God, overthrow this rotten court, establish a new world, and build a new court. ”

This is the first time Li Zicheng has really revealed his heart to everyone.

Niu Jinxing clapped his palms, "Ambitious." ”

"Does the military advisor have any clever plan to solve the current crisis?"

Niu Jinxing still had a smile on his face, "If the general has such lofty ambitions, then I am willing to show the way for the general." ”

"What Minglu?"

"Please come down." Niu Venus spat out two words.

Liu Zongmin shouted: "Rats, dare to disturb our army's heart!" ”

Li Zicheng was not annoyed, he stared at Niu Jinxing, and waved his hand, "Zong Min, don't be bored, and listen to the military advisor in detail." ”

Niu Jinxing also looked calm, and he flicked the folding fan.

"I propose that the general ask for surrender, but not to Liu Jiye."

As soon as these words came out, Li Zicheng was also a little confused, if he didn't ask Liu Jiye to surrender, who else could he ask to surrender, who else in the world could be his surrender?

"This person is far away in the sky, close in front of him, and the Fu King in Luoyang City is also."

"Ask King Fu to surrender, what are you kidding, you're not crazy, are you?" Liu Zongmin scolded.

Song Xiance and Li Yan were dazzled, and they both understood what Niu Jinxing meant.

For a long time, no matter how much they advertised, the army was labeled as a bandit and anti-thief, and because of this, they were not popular, and they have always relied on robbery to survive. It is precisely because of this that he has never been able to establish a base place, so he can only wander around.

After more than half a year of hard work, they barely won the support of some of the people, but the gentry class was still opposed to them.

And now although the Ming Dynasty is dead, since the Han Dynasty, the strength is even stronger.

However, the Han Emperor usurped the throne of the Ming Dynasty, and in terms of it, he can be regarded as a chaotic minister and thief. Especially since Liu Jun became emperor, he has implemented rent reduction and interest reduction, debt collection, etc., not only the original Ming clans fell from the sky to the ground, but also the officials and gentry in those places also suffered great losses.

In addition, the dismantling of the guards in various localities and the clean-up of the military cantonments led to the fact that a large number of military attachés of the former guards were reduced to ordinary people overnight. The new policies implemented by the new dynasty also made the local gentry scholars lose their privileges of preferential exemption, and even be held accountable.

There is also the new tax law, which also makes these businessmen who make a lot of money but basically do not pay taxes.

All this stems from dissatisfaction with the new DPRK's new policy.

And these grievances can be used by the invading army.

"General, you said that if we support King Fu and claim the throne as emperor at this time, and we raise the banner of King Qin, what do you say?" Niu Jinxing said very proudly.

"What kind of bullshit idea are you, King Fu can't wait for us to die, how is it possible?" Liu Zongmin said dissatisfied.

Li Zicheng shouted, "Zong Min, don't talk yet." ”

Liu Zongmin didn't understand the intention of Niu Jinxing's proposal, but Li Zicheng did. In the past, they were indeed the anti-thieves and bandits of the Ming Dynasty, but now that the Ming Dynasty is gone, the signboard of the Ming Dynasty is still useful. With the signboard of Daming, then they can change from bandits to Qinwangjun.

With the signboard of the Ming Dynasty, then these former military attachés of the former guards, those local gentry and businessmen, etc., those former Ming clans, and those people who are loyal to the former Ming Dynasty can become their help.

Under the banner of the Ming Dynasty, they will no longer be anti-thieves and bandits.

Li Zicheng became excited, why didn't he think of this.

"I'm afraid that King Fu may not be willing?" Li Zicheng said, when he said this, he was indeed tempted.

Niu Jinxing said with a smile, "Just one letter to Luoyang, the package can be successful." ”

"I'm afraid that a letter is not enough, and someone has to go there in person. Which of you would like to go to Luoyang and convince King Fu? Li Zicheng asked.

Li Yan stepped forward, "General, my subordinates are willing to go to Luoyang and persuade King Fu." ”

Li Zicheng was very happy to see Li Yan invited. "Very good, with Brother Li out of the horse, I am relieved. Bring more gifts, say more good things, and go back quickly. ”

"Yes, the subordinates will live up to their mission."

Li Zicheng personally wrote a statement, expressing his willingness to honor King Fu to inherit the throne of the Ming Dynasty, and to lead his troops to conquer the usurper Liu Jun and restore the throne.

Liu Zongmin couldn't help but ask, "What if King Fu refuses or dares not to be this emperor?" ”

"It's a big deal that we go back to Guanzhong, there are still a lot of Ming Dynasty clans in Guanzhong, just honor another emperor." Li Zicheng chuckled. (To be continued.) )