Zhao Han is not concerned about Zhang Xianzhong, but about the increasingly serious spring drought.

Last year, the drought in the north reached its peak, and it was the year with the most extensive and severe drought in the north since Chongzhen ascended the throne, and the drought even affected the Mongolian steppe!

This year, the spring drought has spread to Sichuan, Hunan, Guizhou and Guangxi.

Of the provinces under Zhao Han's rule, only Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, half of Jiangsu, and two-thirds of Jiangxi were not affected.

There is a great drought in the whole of Hunan!

Just looking at the spring drought, we know that it is another year of great disaster.

The Manchu Qing Dynasty was very lucky, because of the drought over the years, it only affected the Ningjin line. As for the Tartar's nest, there was not a single drought, so it was enough to withstand the snowstorm in winter.

"Do you want to hold off on the Northern Expedition?" Huang Shunfu, the head of the household, asked.

"Can't stop," Li Banghua said, "If the drought is serious next year, won't it be next year?" ”

"I definitely have to fight," Zhao Han said very reluctantly, "persuade Zuo Liangyu to surrender." As long as he is willing to surrender, give him five ships to transport goods and goods, and come to Nanjing to be a rich man. ”

Zhao Han was also helpless, he had to collect food from the victims this year, and the people's lives would be difficult.

If Zuo Liangyu is willing to surrender, he can save countless grains and starve to death many Shandong people.

……

Shandong, Dongchang Province.

Zuo Liangyu seemed to be smiling, looked at Pan Duao and said, "Zhang Xianzhong really wants to join forces with me to fight Zhao Han?" But I don't have any food in my hands, and this year there is another big drought in Shandong. ”

"Zhao thief has food, go and grab it!" Pan Duao said.

Zuo Liangyu said again: "If you grab grain, you have to go to the army, and if you send out the army, you have to pay for the promotion." I don't have enough money and food, so how can I go south to fight? ”

Pan Duao asked rhetorically: "Now that Zhao Han is going north, it is nothing more than the difference between hitting Zuohou first or hitting the king of my family first." Zhao Han destroyed Zuo Hou, and the next one is the king of my family. Zhao Han destroyed the king of my family, and the next one is Zuo Hou. You and I have cold lips and teeth, if we don't join forces again, we will be broken by Zhao Han! ”

"Let me think about it." Zuo Liangyu did not refuse, nor did he agree on the spot.

Pan Duao smiled: "Does Zuo Hou still want to belong to Zhao Han?" According to Zhao Han's rules, even if Zuo Hou leads his troops to take refuge, he will definitely not be able to take charge of the army in the future. If you don't have your own army, you can be a rich man, and you won't be at the mercy of others in the future? Waiting for the army to be dismissed, they all went to the countryside to get the land, who can not be willing to Zhao Han? At that time, Zuo Houzhi's life and death will depend on whether Zhao Han is merciful. ”

Zuo Liangyu fell into deep thought.

He is a typical soldier in the late Ming Dynasty, and his thinking has long been solidified.

He can give up wealth, he can give up knighthood, he can give up official position, but he can't give up the army!

Because in his consciousness, to abandon the army is to wait for death. There are too many examples like Da Ming, there are soldiers and everything, and there are no soldiers, and it is normal to end up in exile.

Zuo Liangyu asked: "If you join forces, how should you fight?" ”

Pan Duao replied: "The king of my family, attack Xinyang and Luoshan in the north, and Guangji and Huangmei in the south. As for Zuohou, Xuzhou, Dangshan, Shangqiu, Kaocheng...... You can hit anywhere. With such a three-sided attack, Zhao Han will inevitably take care of his head and tail. ”

"I'll think again." Zuo Liangyu hesitated.

He knew how great his ability was, and he didn't dare to start a war with Zhao Han easily. But he didn't dare to take refuge in Zhao Han, for fear of being deprived of military rights, for fear of being unloaded and killed on a donkey.

It turned out that he still wanted to drag it, but Zhao Han was already bordering him, so he either came to beat him directly or cleaned up Zhang Xianzhong.

It can't be delayed, it can't be hit, and it can't be lowered.

How can this be?

Zuo Liangyu summoned his own think tank and discussed it for half a month, but he still couldn't find any way out.

Pan Duao has been waiting, waiting anxiously, and despises Zuo Liangyu in his heart for being indecisive.

A few days later, Zhang Dai, as a messenger, came to Dongchang City.

"I admire King Wu very much, and I am willing to submit sincerely," Zuo Liangyu said, "I am willing to be the vanguard of the king, whether it is to fight the north Zhili or to fight the thieves, as long as the king of Wu gives an order, the soldiers of the whole army will swear to die!" ”

As soon as this goods opened his mouth, he hinted at keeping the army, how could Zhang Dai agree?

It's not even possible to be false and wrong, otherwise Zuo Liangyu will use the name of Zhao Han to burn, kill, loot and expand in Shandong? Plainly ruined the reputation of Zhao Han and Datong Army!

Zhang Dai said truthfully: "As long as Zuo Hou is willing to surrender, after handing over the army, he can use five big ships to transport goods and goods, and go to Nanjing to buy a house and enjoy Qingfu." ”

Zuo Liangyu sighed: "I can't just think about myself, the whole army is disarmed and returned to the field, I'm afraid many people don't want to." ”

"Zuo Hou's generals, King Wu has his own placement, and he will definitely not treat him harshly," Zhang Dai said, "Since the beginning of the army, King Wu has always been a man of his word, and he has never gone back on his word." To put it mildly, since he promised to make Zuo Hou a rich man, he would not settle accounts after the autumn, and Zuo Hou did not make an exception for King Wu. ”

"I can trust King Wu's character and morality, and let me think about it again." Zuo Liangyu was a little moved.

Zhang Dai continued to reason, and Zuo Liangyu almost agreed.

However, this product still refuses to make a final statement, and his habit has always been to look at the wind.

What Zuo Liangyu thought in his heart was that maybe when Zhang Xianzhong and Zhao Han fought, he would lead his troops to join him at a critical moment, and he would be able to take the opportunity to reap more benefits!

After sending Zhang Dai away, Zuo Liangyu summoned Pan Duao again: "I have decided that as long as your army sends troops first, the army of Shandong will definitely cooperate with the south." ”

"This is a wise move!" Pan Duao was overjoyed.

Zuo Liangyu deliberately made a promise to let Zhang Xianzhong and Zhao Han go to war. First, let Zhao Han's troops point to Hubei, and don't come to Shandong for the time being; Second, observe the victory or defeat of the war between the two sides, jump out and take sides at a critical time, and take the opportunity to ask for more benefits!

Zhang Xianzhong is bent on fighting!

Originally, he did not dare to fight, but this year there was a severe spring drought in Hubei, and the number of troops was so large that it exploded. Zhang Xianzhong's military rations can't hold anymore, and he must find a place to get a few votes, and Zhao Han's territory is a natural supply area.

Anhui is so rich, Zhang Xianzhong is drooling.

In the Anhui region north of the Yangtze River, although Zhao Han only occupied it for half a year, he had already completed the work of dividing the land and relocating. In Zhang Xianzhong's eyes, he is very rich, with a large population, a lot of food, and a lot of goods, at least much stronger than his Hubei!

Alas, Zhang Xianzhong also wants to develop the people's livelihood, and the military and Mintun are all hot, but in the event of a catastrophe, he can only return to his old job.

In the spring of this year, Zhang Xianzhong once again forcibly requisitioned grain and grass, and forcibly conscripted hundreds of people to be people's husbands. He did not have the patience to develop his territory against natural disasters, and simply overdrew the people's strength to fight, and perhaps he could bring down the Jianghuai region.

Liao Zhifang and Xu Yixian both tried hard to persuade each other, but to no avail, Zhang Xianzhong had already made up his mind.

……

"Your Highness, according to the news sent back by Xizuo, Zhang Xianzhong wantonly collected grain and grass, requisitioned people, and there were more and more garrisons along the Yangtze River."

The person who spoke was Xu Ying, who had finally returned to Nanjing, and was still in charge of the intelligence department, a bit like the head of Jinyiwei.

Zhao Han suddenly frowned: "He's crazy, it's spring ploughing season!" ”

Xu Ying said: "It is estimated that the spring drought is serious, and Zhang Xianzhong does not build water conservancy, so even if he sows seeds, he will not be able to harvest any grain." He simply gave up spring ploughing, took advantage of the fact that our army's summer grain had not been harvested, and led a large army to invade the Jianghuai area. The increase in garrisons in his cities along the Yangtze River was also to prevent our army from attacking from the Yangtze River. ”

Zhao Han gathered all the main officials, and after some discussion, he quickly made a decision.

First, all localities must do a good job in spring ploughing, and the work of fighting drought and providing disaster relief must not be stopped.

Second, it is necessary to issue grain bonds, do a good job in publicizing the work, and solicit grain from the non-governmental sector.

third, Hunan summoned 20,000 peasants and soldiers and 20,000 people; Jiangxi summoned 20,000 peasants and soldiers and 20,000 people. Assemble along the Yangtze River and stand ready to go out at any time!

Fourth, Jiangnan summoned 10,000 peasants and 20,000 people to immediately support the direction of Guangji.

Fifth, Xinyang Prefecture recruited 2,000 peasant soldiers and 3,000 civilians on the spot.

Sixth, Fei Ruhe returned to Xuzhou, and Zhang Tieniu moved to Taizhuang (Taierzhuang). While guarding against Zuo Liangyu, he was ready for a counteroffensive at any time, and transferred 5,000 people from northern Jiangsu.

Seventh, Huang Mi's newly formed mountain division in Shizhou Mansion waited for the order to cross the river and capture Yiling.

Once a full-scale war breaks out this time, the economy and people's livelihood under Zhao Han's rule will definitely be seriously affected.

However, within acceptable limits, the broad masses of toiling people at the bottom have gone from eating three meals a day to tightening their belts and eating two meals.

Fortunately, in the spring of this year, Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang will have good weather conditions, and the grain shipped from Vietnam can be transported to the coastal areas of Jiangsu to relieve the pressure.

However, there is really not much grain by sea, because the profits are not good enough.

Even if Zhao Han is exempt from grain import duties, maritime merchants only use grain as ballast and make a little money by the way.

Vietnam does have a lot of grain, but Vietnam's land transportation is also bad, and the transportation cost is extremely high, so you can only buy grain in the coastal areas of Vietnam.

As for the food in the Philippines, Cambodia, and Myanmar, don't even think about it. Shipping is extremely risky, ships can be wrecked at any time, high-profit goods are worth the risk, and it is absolutely impossible for maritime merchants to transport grain over long distances.

The war with Zhang Xianzhong has little to do with Zhao Han's meddling in Sichuan.

Because even if Zhang Xianzhong fought Sichuan, he didn't dare to mobilize too many troops, and he had to guard against Zhao Han at any time. Once there is a catastrophe, should it be fought or must be fought, who made Zhao Han's territory richer?

Just when the two sides were deploying troops, Zuo Liangyu, who was going to wait and see the direction of the wind, suddenly received a shocking news.

"Master Hou, the thieves have entered Beizhili!"

"What?"

The drought in Beizhili was equally serious, and because food and wages had not been paid, the defenders of Kaizhou, Quang Binh, and Daimyofu mutinied.

Two general soldiers were killed, one general soldier fled, one general soldier defected to the enemy, and the governor Chen Xinjia fled back to Beijing with the governor in embarrassment.

Li Zicheng's generals in the Henan direction led his troops into Beizhili, and then went to the northwest to attack Sun Chuanting with Li Zicheng.

Sun Chuanting was defeated and fled back to Beijing, and Li Zicheng broke through the pass from Taihang Mountain!

Li Zicheng claimed to have 400,000 troops, and the city fell from the wind along the way. Even the troops stationed in the imperial mausoleum took the initiative to join Li Zicheng, and the eunuchs guarding the mausoleum even became the leading party.

In the entire Beizhili, there are only Hong Chengchou's Jizhen soldiers, and they are still working hard to suppress bandits.

Hong Chengchou learned the news and was preparing to lead troops to King Qin, and Li Zicheng had already led his troops to the city of Beijing.

(The name of the alliance leader is wrong, sorry, thank you for the league leader of Liu Nima SB.) ）

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