Huguang, Wuchang Mansion.

In Wuchang City, there is no chaos and robbery a few days ago, but at this time, it is a festive scene of colorful flags, and everywhere is cleaned up, just like the New Year.

Groups of rebel soldiers patrolled, all uniformed and roaming around the city, maintaining stability and order in the city.

However, all of this gives people an inexplicable sense of disobedience.

Compared with the festive and grand scene in the city, the atmosphere seems strange, it is so deserted, filled with a faint sense of tension, although there are passers-by shuttling, going back and forth between the streets and alleys and shops, although there are shops and restaurants in business, no matter how you look at it, there is a strange feeling, pedestrians and merchants are like walking corpses, as if everything is an illusion, all pretend.

The palace of the king of Chu has been renovated and renovated, and it is still majestic, but it has been replaced with another plaque, at this time, it is Zhang Xianzhong's palace, the place where he ascended the throne, and the hall has also been changed to the pattern of the palace, just like the place of the early dynasty, but the space is relatively small.

Zhang Xianzhong's subordinates were everywhere, and every other distance, there would be a sentry standing guard, and at the same time, it was a unique style that belonged to the emperor.

On the top of the main hall, Zhang Xianzhong sits upright, and there are hundreds of civil and military officials standing below, although the founding ceremony has not yet been officially held, the pattern of the imperial court has begun to emerge, and the officials of the six departments and the five military governors are all in place, just waiting for the day of canonization.

"Qiyu Daxi Wang, this time the opening of the branch to recruit talents, a total of 30 jinshi, 48 students, all of whom were awarded state and county official positions. Moreover, the "Tongtian Calendar" has also been compiled and can be issued and printed at any time. There is also the money bureau, and the mold of the coin has also been made, and it is running day and night to catch up with the copper coins......"

I have to say that although there are many strategists and generals who do not agree with Zhang Xianzhong's actions and prematurely establish the country and become emperor, I also have to admire Zhang Xianzhong's actions are really vigorous and resolute, and in less than ten days, an almost complete court was formed.

Of course, it must not be otherwise, the upcoming Great Western Dynasty is full of moisture, it can be called shoddy, mixed with fish and dragons, and there are all kinds of people among the officials.

No one tried to persuade Zhang Xianzhong anymore, not only because the arrow was on the bow and everything was ready, but mainly because this King of Daxi had been confused and only wanted to be the emperor, with his domineering style, who would dare to say more words and say things against his ears?

At this moment, with the successive invitations of the left and right prime ministers Wang Zhaolin, Yan Ximing and others, and reported the situation, Zhang Xianzhong had a sense of pride in the spring breeze, and the red light on his face became more and more blazing, and the dignified look on the face of Wang Shangli of the Chinese army was very ugly, and he said: "King Qiyu Daxi, according to the Tanmalai report, He Zhen led the Dashun army, came from Anqing Mansion, and went straight to Wuchang Mansion, plus Zuo Mengeng's surrender army, the strength is about 20,000 people. And... And..."

"And what?" Zhang Xianzhong's thick eyebrows were raised, his pupils contracted, and he asked in a cold voice.

Wang Shangli was excited, swallowed his saliva with difficulty, and returned to normal in an instant, but his words were still a little nervous, and he hurriedly replied: "Moreover, after Luo Rucai left Wuchang Mansion, he led the crowd straight to Nanzhili, according to the detailed work we planted in it, Leader Luo wanted to defect to Li Zicheng." There are other rebel armies that also have a tendency to follow suit......"

Misfortune is not a one-way street, nothing else.

Zhang Xianzhong was only silent for a moment, his brows furrowed, as if to appease everyone, and as if he was talking to himself, and said disapprerovingly: "Come here, come when you leave, leave when you leave, there is nothing to care about, during this time, although the time is short, our army has expanded more than ten times, and I am not afraid of him Li Zicheng!" ”

The words are so flamboyant, so unbeatable, and full of domineering.

However, the effect of Zhang Xianzhong's words is still slightly lacking, and not everyone buys it, especially those generals, who know the moisture in these words, and encourage and appease people's hearts.

In such a short period of time, the number of troops has increased so much, not to mention whether they can all be equipped with weapons, most of them are new recruits, who have never had battlefield experience, and almost all of them are forced to conscript.

With many years of battlefield experience, these generals know very well that the additional recruits are also pretending, playing the effect of strengthening the momentum, and are barely used to defend the city.

Especially under the "poison" of the various policies of the Dashun Dynasty, I tasted some sweetness, and when I encountered the Dashun army, I am afraid that he would defect and beg for surrender.

Obviously, Zhang Xianzhong weakened and ignored these things a little, and once again happily discussed the founding ceremony with the ministers, with high spirits, without the slightest intention of a crisis.

Soon after, the palace meeting ended, and Zhang Xianzhong and his three righteous sons came to the back hall to discuss privately.

"Father-in-law, I really don't understand, since Li Dingguo has surrendered to the Dashun Dynasty and attached himself to Li Zicheng, and is now serving under Gao Yigong's men and guarding Sichuan, why do you want to crown him as General Anxi again?"

Zhang Xianzhong was silent, and Funan General Liu Wenxiu groaned for a while, but said tentatively: "Hmm... The reason for this must be the deep meaning of the righteous father. Moreover, Li Dingguo is by no means a heartless person, his father-in-law has the grace to raise him, how dare he betray him so easily? ”

As he spoke, Liu Wenxiu's heart moved, and his voice stopped abruptly, as if he had figured out something crucial, and couldn't help but glance at the other two, Sun Kewang and Ai Nengqi's expressions were similar, as if they also understood something, they both had a sense of enlightenment, they looked at Zhang Xianzhong together, and asked in unison: "Father-in-law, could it be that Li Dingguo's 'defection' to the Dashun Army was deliberately arranged by you?" ”

Zhang Xianzhong's expression was not good, he was a little cold, and a trace of anger flashed in his eyes, and he said in a cold voice: "You think too much." If Li Dingguo was really my arranger, Sichuan would have been ours for a long time, so how could he live in Wuchang Mansion and the few surrounding counties? ”

In an instant, the three of them suddenly remembered that if Li Dingguo really did not defect, the operation to enter Sichuan a few days ago would not have failed, even if he could not occupy the entire territory of Sichuan, he could still seize a few state capitals and have more territory.

The fact is that as soon as the army entered Sichuan, it encountered a strong resistance, and if it didn't run fast, it would have to be annihilated!

As soon as they thought of this, the three of them glanced at each other again, full of suspicion, and Sun Kewang asked even more puzzled: "In that case, father-in-law, what do you mean by this?" Why did Li Dingguo have to be given the title of General Pingxi? ”

"Hey, hey..."

Zhang Xianzhong sneered, his two thick eyebrows rose slightly, his deep eyes were filled with strong hatred, and he said quietly: "Those who dare to betray me will never end well, and I will never let him have a good end." ”

In an instant, the three of them suddenly understood Zhang Xianzhong's intentions, his father-in-law was in the shadow of Li Dingguo, and wanted to kill Li Dingguo under the pretense of Gao Yigong's hand, even if he couldn't die, it would affect his status in the Dashun Army and be suspicious.