Chongzhen was hesitating, and Liu Jun used a newly trained army to fight Sichuan, attack Huaixi, and fight Xiyi, and there was no disadvantage. Compared with the Huguang New Army, the nine-sided border army of the imperial court, especially the Guanning Iron Cavalry, has been in battle for a long time, and the imperial court has invested countless money and grain into it.

Especially since last autumn, Chongzhen has reorganized the Guanning Army into three towns, with 90,000 people under his jurisdiction, cleaned up the vacancies, eliminated the old and weak, repaid military salaries, and replaced many ordnance, Chongzhen feels that the strength of the Guanning Army should be stronger today.

And he is also considering transferring Sun Chuanting, Fierce Tiger, Hu Dawei and other fierce generals from Shaanxi to Ningjin. Now that the bandits have been pacified, these elites don't have to sit in the northwest all the time, and those remaining bandits will be handed over to the local generals.

With the current 90,000 troops in the three towns of Guanningjin, and 50,000 or 60,000 soldiers and horses from the three sides of Shaanxi to Ningjin, then the imperial court can gather at least 100,000 elite soldiers on the front line of Jinzhou.

100,000 elite soldiers launched a counterattack and captured the city of Uiju.

Hong Chengchou made a series of twists and turns, saying that the Qing army had finished building the city of Yizhou, and now it began to camp outside the city of Yizhou, and from time to time sent cavalry to the periphery of Jinzhou to destroy the Ming army's tuntian. If there is no counteroffensive, not only will the tuntian in Jinzhou be incomplete this year, but the Qing army in Yizhou will further squeeze the living space of the Ming army in Jinzhou.

If this continues, it will be difficult for Jinzhou to hold on. If Jinzhou is not protected, it will be difficult for Liaoxi to hold on. Hong Chengchou tied the safety of Jinzhou and the entire Guanwai to the capture of Yizhou City.

However, Mei Zhihuan, the first assistant, and Li Changgeng, the second assistant, as well as Fu Zonglong, the secretary of the military department, and Chen Xinjia, the left attendant of the military department, also opposed the attack on Yizhou, and still insisted that Jinzhou send a small force of soldiers and horses to destroy the tuntian of Yizhou and attack their supply routes.

But more and more ministers of the imperial court are supporting Hong Chengchou's plan, especially many ministers led by Zhou Yanru, the secretary of the ministry, especially many ministers with Donglin status, are the loudest shouters, and have been writing to demand the use of troops against Jianyu to attack Yizhou. Regain Liaodong.

These voices advocating a decisive battle became louder and louder, and some people even began to write letters again, proposing to transfer Liu Jun's new army from Hubei to Jinzhou to participate in the war.

In the recitals of most ministers, it seems that the Guan Ning army plus the Chu army will be able to win.

Today, Chongzhen invited the two auxiliary ministers to enter the palace and once again discussed whether to attack Yizhou or whether to transfer Liu Jun to Jinzhou. Mentally speaking, Chongzhen now has some support for attacking Yizhou City, but he has not yet thought about whether to transfer Liu Jun to Jinzhou, and he still thinks that it is better not to transfer Liu Jun to Jinzhou. Liu Jun is more flexible in his use of troops, and now he has a large fleet, which makes it more suitable for him to attack on the coast of Liaodong.

He had another plan in mind, planning to use Sun Chuanting to replace Liu Jun and send troops to reinforce Jinzhou.

Mei and Li entered the palace, and Chongzhen personally greeted them at the gate of the palace.

In the thirteen years since he ascended the throne, countless auxiliary ministers have been used, but only Mei and Li have not been in the cabinet for a long time. But it quickly turned the situation of the entire imperial court. It not only pacified the bandits, but also greatly improved the financial situation of the imperial court. Mei Zhihuan presided over the rectification of the guards to clean up the tuntian, saving a lot of military expenses for the imperial court, not to mention, but also adding countless tuntian. And Li Changgeng presided over the reorganization of the new army plan. A large number of old and weak people were also eliminated and many vacancies were cleared, and the combat effectiveness of the Ming army was greatly improved. There is also the opening of the sea ban, the establishment of the municipal shipping customs, and the new opening of commercial taxes. To rectify salt tea, in just half a year, the imperial court has increased its income by 10 million silver dollars. This income is quite staggering. In particular, they are mainly from the south-eastern coastal provinces. Although the imperial court canceled the levy this year, reduced the levy and training salary, and levied more than 7 million taels of silver less, the finances of the imperial court not only did not deteriorate, but still improved, and the income was still rising.

In particular, the current military tun land rent and customs and commercial taxes are also partially withheld, which not only makes the imperial court's income increase, but also the money and grain available in the local area are more abundant.

Chongzhen has been the emperor for many years, and his vision is also sharp-eyed, he can clearly feel that these two auxiliary ministers are different from those auxiliary ministers of the Donglin Party in the past, they do not engage in party struggle but are dedicated to doing practical things. is also different from Wen Tiren Xue Guoguan, these people only know how to meet and have no real talent for governing the country.

Mei Zhihuan saw the emperor standing at the door of the palace in person to greet him, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute. He took a few steps, but he coughed incessantly.

When Chongzhen saw it, he stepped forward to personally support him, "Mr. works hard for the country, you must pay more attention to recuperation, and I will go back to the imperial doctor to go to the palace to diagnose Mr. Haosheng, prescribe some conditioning and temperature supplements, and take the best medicinal materials from the inner library." ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty, old man, it's useless."

"I still have to rely on Mr. to govern the country, handle national affairs for me, and prosper the Ming Dynasty." Chongzhen said on the other hand, and even untied the mink fur on his body and put it on for Mei Zhihuan.

After entering the palace, Chongzhen asked the palace people to bring soft chairs for Mei Li, and brought copper charcoal basins to keep warm in front of the two.

After sitting down, Chongzhen mentioned today's business, but as soon as he started, Mei Zhihuan immediately resolutely opposed sending troops to attack Yizhou.

"Your Majesty, although the Ming Dynasty pacified the bandits in the Central Plains, just like a person who has just recovered from a serious illness, now is the time to be weak. Although the imperial court has carried out various reforms in the imperial court, it has not been effective for a while. At this time, the imperial court wanted to concentrate heavy troops to fight a decisive battle with the Qing army, which was not the right way and was really a risky move. Once the war is lost, or the delay is not decided, the heavy troops of the imperial court are concentrated outside the pass, first, the bandits in the Central Plains may resurge, and second, more than 100,000 troops are gathered outside the pass, the demand for food and salary will also be greatly increased, and the burden on the court will be greatly increased. If he wins, he will only take a Yizhou, which will not help much to the situation outside the Guan, and if he loses, Jinzhou will inevitably not be guaranteed, and the gateway to western Liaoning will be opened! ”

"The old minister is brave, please ask the emperor to decree, but in the future, if anyone dares to speak out and fight with the Qing army, they will be killed!" Mei Zhihuan said a few hard words.

Chongzhen's heart was unhappy, and his face gradually sank.

"Could it be that Shoufu is so unconfident in my Ming border army? Do you think we can't win the battle? ”

"It's not that the old minister has no confidence in the Ming border army, but His Majesty has appointed the minister to be the first assistant, and the old minister must hold the country steadily. The minister is the first assistant, not the general. Just like in an army, a general can win by surprise, but a commander can't always hope for luck. Your Majesty, the current situation in the imperial court is improving, and it will take three or five years to recuperate, when the strength of the imperial court is restored, the internal stability is stable, and then it is conquest from the outside, why worry about Liaodong not returning? Why rush for this moment? ”

"But if I don't attack Jianyu, Jianyu will come to attack me. Are we just going to let Jianyu approach step by step? ”

"Your Majesty, this matter has long been discussed. The Qing army is stationed in Jinzhou, our army is stationed in Jinzhou, he is coming to disturb, I can also counterattack and disturb, he does not let me Jinzhou Tuntian, and we do not let him Tuntian. The two armies are facing each other according to the city, don't waste the battle, the Qing army will be helpless for a while? ”

"If the Qing army comes to besiege Jinzhou?" Chongzhen asked again.

"If the Qing army besieges Jinzhou, our army will hold Jinzhou. With the strength of the city and the abundance of grain and grass, it can be guaranteed for at least one or two years. And if the thief dares to come to the nest, the Hou of Zhennan can take advantage of the weakness to smash the hole, this is the way for the thief to lose, I can't ask for it, why be afraid? ”

Chongzhen had a straight face, but he couldn't accept it in his heart, Shousuke's strategy. It was obviously a passive beating. Wait three or five years? Chongzhen didn't want to wait for a year.

"If Sun Chuanting from Shaanxi and Qin Liangyu from Sichuan are transferred to Jinzhou, can they capture Yizhou?"

"Your Majesty!" Mei Zhihuan shouted helplessly.

"Sir, I don't have to fight Jianyu in a decisive battle, but Yiju must be taken. Otherwise, Jinzhou will not be safe. If Jinzhou is lost, the entire Ningjin will not be protected, and I can't take this risk. We concentrated our troops and horses to take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness. Destroy Uiju and collect troops. ”

"Your Majesty, how can the imperial court mobilize a large army, how can it hide from Jianyu? We increased our troops in Jinzhou. Jianyu will increase the army in Yizhou, and when the two armies face each other, they will become a tiger. ”

Mei Zhihuan sighed, the emperor's intention was to fight this battle, and he changed his ways, hey.

"Your Majesty, Li Zicheng, Luo Rucai and other big thieves have not yet been captured, and they have been entrenched in the mountains on the border of Shaanxi and Sichuan.

Li Changgeng also persuaded.

But the more the two persuaded, the more Chongzhen's determination to fight Yizhou became stronger.

Later that day, Chongzhen convened the cabinet scholars and Jiuqing to discuss the matter, and finally decided to send troops to destroy the city of Yiju.

Sun Chuanting, the governor of Zhao, led the Qin army such as the fierce tiger and the tiger Dawei into Liao, and transferred the Sichuan army Qin Liangyu to lead the Sichuan army into Liao.

Liu Jun, the governor of Zhaohuguang, led the Chu army to cross the sea from the sea to attack Liao!

The emperor wants to counterattack the Tartars.

This news spread almost instantaneously throughout the streets and alleys of the entire Beijing Division. At first, some people didn't believe it, but soon the news was confirmed.

For decades, the Ming Dynasty has lost many defeats against Hou Jinsheng, and even the Tartars have broken into the pass several times, burned, killed, and plundered, and the Ming people hated Jianyu to the core. If it was in the past, perhaps when they heard that the imperial court was going to send troops to Liaodong, everyone would be full of worries, fearing that they would have to levy more food and wages. And now, the imperial court has just reduced half of the three salaries, and the imperial court defeated Hongyi last year, and the confidence of the Manchu government and the opposition has greatly increased, and they are full of optimism about the imperial court's dispatch of troops to Liaodong.

If they can win, who will be afraid of war.

When the Manjing division was talking about the imperial army like a defeated tartar, Mei Zhihuan was lying in the study in the mansion, coughing constantly. The emperor finally decided to send troops, and also sent Sun Chuanting and Qin Liangyu to the north.

Hey, this stubborn emperor, Mei Zhihuan coughed again. But he knew that he couldn't persuade the emperor anymore.

"My lord, the emperor is coming." The butler came to report.

Mei Zhihuan got up, not understanding what the emperor was doing at this time.

Chongzhen still came in small clothes, and he also brought several of the best imperial doctors in the palace.

"Sir, I asked them to take a good look at your body."

"There's nothing to look at, it's just that the oil is running out, and your body knows it." Mei Zhihuan sighed. Then he said, "Since Your Majesty insists on transferring Sun Chuanting and Qin Liangyu to Liao, the old minister can't dissuade him, so he has only one suggestion." Since you have decided to fight, then go all out to fight this battle, don't hesitate at all, please ask Your Majesty to transfer the town of Nanhou to lead the three towns of Huguang and Guangzhou, and go to Liao with the fleet of the naval division, concentrate all your strength, and fight with Jianyu. ”

Chongzhen was surprised, "Isn't Sir, against the decisive battle?" ”

"The minister is against the decisive battle, but now that His Majesty wants to fight with Jianyu, it is better to fight and fight with all his might, so that he can have more chances of winning."

"I will consider this matter, Mr. is not feeling well, during this time, I will recuperate in the mansion first, and I don't have to worry about cabinet affairs for the time being, I will let the second assistant temporarily lead the cabinet."

Mei Zhihuan sighed in his heart, he heard that the emperor did not intend to accept his suggestion, and did not want to transfer Liu Jun to Liao. And if this allows him to rest, it is indeed a care for him, and maybe there is an opportunity to let him rest, so as not to interfere in the big battle that he opposes. Thinking of this, Mei Zhihuan was a little disheartened, and simply closed his eyes and didn't say anything.

"Sir recuperates well, and when my body is better, I will still rely on Mr. to assist the political state." Chongzhen's words rang in his ears, and then footsteps sounded, and the emperor left. (To be continued......)

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