Xingning Palace, Li Zicheng, Yuan Zongdi, and Xu Xiake were dining together, sitting at a table with the emperor of the Dashun Dynasty.

"Zongdi, as soon as I got off the court, I couldn't wait to come over, seeing you excitedly like that, the old face was flushed, is there anything good?"

Hearing Li Zicheng's inquiry, Yuan Zong swallowed the food in his mouth for the first time, and replied with some ambiguity: "Your Majesty, it is indeed good news, the fierce fire oil tank developed by Jiao Miao and others has been successful, and Lu Shiyi specially ordered someone to escort it here to accept your inspection." ”

As he spoke, the red light on Yuan Zongdi's face became more and more intense, and he was almost uncontrollable with excitement, his voice was raised a few points, and his words had become very clear.

"Moreover, Lu Shiyi sent a lot of fierce fire oil this time, because he couldn't bear the curiosity in his heart, the last general first let people demonstrate the fierce fire oil tank, although the range is short, but the power is amazing, if it can be equipped to the army, the combat effectiveness of our Dashun army will definitely be able to rise to a higher level!"

With the soul of modern people, Li Zicheng certainly knows that the so-called fierce fire oil tank is actually the most primitive flamethrower.

"Well, okay, Zongdi, hurry up and eat, after eating, after listening to Mr. Xu's affairs, let's go try the fierce fire oil tank!"

Without waiting for Yuan Zongdi to answer, Li Zicheng turned to look at Xu Xiake and asked, "Mr. Xu, is there anything urgent about looking for me at this time?" It's inconvenient to talk in front of hundreds of officials, so I have to look for me in private? ”

"The Emperor's Wise ......."

Xu Xiake put down the dishes and chopsticks, and before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Yuan Zongdi, who immediately stood up and was about to leave the table.

"That, Your Majesty, since Mr. Xu has something very important, then the general will retire first and wait for you at the station!"

What are you kidding, how could Xu Xiake let Yuan Zongdi leave, he is one of the top ten marshals, and among the military, there are few people whose status is second only to the emperor, of course, they are not among the secrecy and suspicion.

"Hey, Marshal Yuan, sit down quickly, you don't have to be like this, you don't have to leave, what this official said involves military affairs, you should also listen!"

Xu Xiake hurriedly grabbed Yuan Zongdi and pressed him to his seat, while continuing: "Your Majesty, it's like this, Marshal Li Yan sent news from Liaodong that Kong Youde, Shang Kexi, and Geng Jingzhong, who surrendered to Huang Taiji, had secretly contacted Marshal Li, revealing the intention of belonging, and wanted to defect to our Dashun ......Dynasty."

"Good news, this is definitely great news!"

Yuan Zongdi became excited, interrupted Xu Xiake's words again, exclaimed, and then said: "If the news is true, the three of them are really willing to belong to our Dashun Dynasty, then it would be great, under the cooperation of the inside and outside, they can definitely take the old nest of yellow pigskins, so as to wipe out the court of the Tartars in one fell swoop and completely solve the rebellion in Liaodong!" ”

Obviously, Xu Xiake also thought of this, and behaved very calmly, just nodded lightly in agreement, and Li Zicheng's reaction was also very calm, to be exact, there was some indifference.

"Okay, Zongdi, don't be surprised, listen to Mr. Xu first."

Suddenly, Yuan Zongdi froze for a moment, his face showed embarrassment, and he looked at Xu Xiake apologetically, accompanied by a sneer.

Xu Xiake responded with a smile, saying that he didn't care, it didn't matter, and turned to Li Zicheng's calm gaze, and said slowly: "Your Majesty, because the matter is very important and involves a wide range of things, Marshal Li Yan does not dare to make decisions without authorization, so I hereby ask the emperor for instructions and ask for your opinion, how should this matter be handled?" ”

"Yes, it's a big deal."

Li Zicheng nodded lightly, responded, with a thoughtful look on his face, and then said: "Let's put aside whether the three of them really surrendered, regardless of it for the time being, once the war starts, a lot of money, silver, rice and grain will be consumed." At this time, the army is moving south, and the destruction of the remaining forces of the Ming court is already a great test for the financial affairs of the imperial court. If there was a war on both sides, it would probably cause the finances of the imperial court to collapse. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, presumably Marshal Li is so cautious and cautious in consideration of this to ask for your opinion. Otherwise, a small matter of surrender could be decided by Marshal Li himself. ”

After Xu Xiake echoed, he seemed to think of something, his face was worried, and his tone became low, and then added: "In the process of going south, although the army captured a lot of vassal kings and seized a lot of money, silver, rice and grain, it greatly relieved the great pressure on the imperial court. However, at this time, the imperial court not only has this southward conquest, but also the natural disasters in the Central Plains and the northwest, several years of drought, especially in the Central Plains, has experienced locust plagues, and it is the time when a large amount of money, silver, rice and grain are needed. ”

"If there is another big war in Liaodong, even if it is the final victory, the Tartars are eliminated, and the yellow pigskin is killed, but in this process, the imperial court is equivalent to supporting three major wars at the same time, and the money, silver, rice and grain consumed are absolutely incalculable, I'm afraid... I'm afraid..."

Although Xu Xiake didn't finish speaking, how could Li Zicheng not hear the words behind?

Even if the two battles in the south and north were all won, but the finances of the Dashun Dynasty had already been unable to make ends meet, and had already collapsed, when the time came, the world was bound to be turbulent, and the people were in turmoil again.

In short, it is a meaning, no matter whether the surrender intention of Kong Youde, Shang Kexi and Geng Jingzhong is true or not, in the short term, the Southern Ming Dynasty has not been destroyed, the natural disasters have not been alleviated, and no more war with the Qing court must be started.

During the entire conversation, Yuan Zongdi had already reacted, understood what Li Zicheng and Xu Xiake were worried about, and the scruples in his heart were not that he didn't want to destroy the Tartars immediately, but that the time was not yet right, and the foundation of the Dashun Dynasty was too thin, and the logistics could not keep up.

After all, a big war is fought not only by the combat effectiveness of the army, but also by the national strength!

For a while, Xingning Palace quieted down, none of the three of them had any intention of eating, and their reactions were different, Yuan Zongdi frowned and looked eager; Xu Xiake's face was full of worry, and he looked at Li Zicheng nervously, afraid that the other party would be hot-headed and start a war with the yellow pigskin regardless of it.

However, compared to the uncalm and restless appearance of the two, Li Zicheng was much calmer, frowning, thinking about something.

After a while, Li Zicheng raised his head suddenly, looked directly at Xu Xiake, his dark eyes became deeper and deeper, and said in a deep voice: "Hmm... Mr. Xu, in this way, sent a letter to Marshal Li Yan, telling him that he could accept the surrender of Kong Youde, Shang Kexi, and Geng Jingzhong. However, it is necessary to ask the three of them to continue to stay in the Qing court, as an internal response, once the time is ripe, they will attack inside and outside, and destroy the Qing court in one fell swoop! ”

Obviously, Xu Xiake also agreed with this resolution, and immediately replied: "Okay, Your Majesty, Weichen will send someone to Liaodong as soon as possible, and superstitious to Marshal Li Yan." ”

When Xu Xiake stood up and left, Li Zicheng also stood up and beckoned Yuan Zongdi: "Okay, Zongdi, let's go and see the fierce fire oil tank!" ”