Geng Zhongming's 5,000 men galloped into the empty city of Xi'an, tidying up the roads and counting the houses, while sending the news back to Tongguan.

At night, knowing that Li Zicheng had indeed escaped, and that he had lost Shanxi, Azig was ashamed, he was afraid that others would say that he was greedy for life and afraid of death, so he delayed the pursuit for three days, and he was afraid that Shengjing would blame him for the defeat and lose a huge amount of loot.

Yes, he personally beat the drums and gathered the generals, and pursued them at night.

Kong Youde and Ah Shan hurriedly stepped forward to dissuade them, "Lord Wang, although Li Zicheng escaped, but the midnight march is a mountain road, and there are dangers, so let's pursue it again tomorrow morning!" ”

The generals tried to persuade him, but Azig was already dizzy and didn't listen at all.

He not only had to pursue Li Zicheng, but also to take away his grain, grass, gold and silver to make up for the loss of Datong, otherwise, he would never have the face to return to Beijing!

"Don't say more, leave 5,000 men and horses to guard Tong Pass, and the rest of the men and horses, follow me to the south to kill Li Zicheng!"

The generals did not dare to object, and hurriedly retreated to organize the headquarters of the people.

Half an hour later, the 30,000-strong army was ready, and Azig rode forward, striding out of the gate.

"The prince stops, and the slave has something to say!" One man suddenly burst out of the crowd, grabbed the reins of the Azig horse, and grabbed him.

……

Zhu Youjian only stayed in Datong for 2 days, and only then did he feel relieved when he saw the 30 million taels of silver collected by Jianyu "helped" and the mountains of grain and grass transported to Jingshi.

Ni Yuanlu and Gao Di are also excited, 30 million taels, according to the sixteenth year of Chongzhen, it can be worth six or seven years of income.

After handing over the Datong matter to Ni Yuanlu, Zhu Youjian immediately took Gao Di to the south, and stayed in Taiyuan Mansion less than a day later.

At this time, Huang Sheng had already led the army to inspect the cities in southern Jinnan, and the general of the temporary defense of the city in Taiyuan was surnamed Hua Mingfeng, and he had followed Chongzhen Yanshan to build crossbows.

Taiyuan City was managed by him in an orderly manner, and the fortifications and security matters were quite organized, and Zhu Youjian was very satisfied.

"Huafeng, before I entered the mansion just now, I seemed to see a lot of people kneeling in the distance."

"Back to the emperor, it was a businessman in Taiyuan. Do you want them to get up and wait for the car first, after all, they killed the captives in the city a few days ago and opened the city gate. Hua Feng said.

Zhu Youjian listened, recalled the evil of the Jin merchants in the late Ming Dynasty, sighed meaningfully, and said:

"Hua Feng, are you sure that the Eight Great Jin Merchants killed the Taiyuan defenders of Jianyu? So many cities in Shanxi were slaughtered, how could the Jin merchants be safe and sound as soon as they ran to Taiyuan? You haven't thought about it? ”

Hua Feng thought for a moment and said, "Presumably, Jin Shang is shrewd and hides tightly." In addition, when the minister entered the city, all the captives had been killed, and the Jin merchants opened the city gate to welcome the king, except for the surviving people in the city, all the Jin merchants' families, which could only be their righteous deeds! ”

"In other words, it was the Jin merchants who were hiding in the shadows, the commander Ding, who killed all the captives in less than a morning?"

Hearing Chongzhen ask, Hua Feng suddenly realized something, yes, even if he led his own troops, could he kill all the enemy troops in a city in one morning?

"What does the emperor mean is that Jin merchants are meritorious, and there are other righteous people to help?" Flower envelope asked carefully.

Zhu Youjian laughed angrily, he was really an elm head, and he continued to enlighten: "Do you think there are still hidden people in the city?" For example, the thieves who surrendered to Jianqing? ”

"Probably not, after the minister entered the city, he conducted a careful search to ensure that there was no one hiding." Hua Feng firmly believes that his search work is perfect.

"Then tell me, Jianguo has recruited more than 100,000 surrendered soldiers, maybe only send real captives to defend the city? Where did the thieves who surrendered go? Zhu Youjian said.

Hua Feng Daigo was empowered: "The minister understands, the minister will go to search everywhere, even if it is three feet into the ground, you must find those traitors!" ”

Zhu Youjian was speechless, who did Huang Sheng use, smiled bitterly, and said, "Forget it." You go and summon the Jin merchants to see you. ”

Hua Feng was confused and hurried out.

After a short break, the eight major Jin merchants entered and shouted long live.

Zhu Youjian hastily concluded the etiquette and said straight to the point: "It is really a great achievement for all the righteous men to open the door to welcome the king. I don't know if there is a son of poetry and books at home, and I would like to return to Beijing as an official with me? ”

The merchants of the Ming Dynasty had a humble status and had no right to take the imperial examination, so they could only cling to the officials.

Although there are also businessmen who have become officials through various channels, they have been repeatedly impeached by officials, and it can be said that they spend a lot of money and are difficult to do in many things.

Now that Chongzhen is actually rewarded with his official status, the status and wealth of Jin merchants will not be allowed to go to the next level in the future?

Jin Shang was overjoyed, and kowtowed again and again, "Back to the emperor, there are many nephews and nephews in the grass people's family, and when the grass people go back, they will carefully select one or two, and they will be officials in the future, and they will be loyal to the country!" ”

The eight people spoke one after another, Zhu Youjian listened quietly, and after a while, he said: "It seems that there are a lot of excellent sons and nephews in your family, so let's wait for you to go home today, choose 100 children and nephews, send them tomorrow, and I will send someone to choose."

If you do have a talent for poetry and calligraphy, I will use it as a civil official, and if you are powerful, you will be a military general, and you will be rewarded for your efforts to open the door, can you wish? ”

Jin Shang's tears of joy were about to come out, and he shouted Long En and left.

Half an hour later......

In the Xinglong Kui Inner Hall, more than 20 people gathered together, the seats were distinct, and the atmosphere was a little depressing, but it revealed a sense of excitement.

"In the land of Shanxi, civil and military officials either died in battle or surrendered, and now there are almost no officials governing the place, the emperor wants our son and nephew to be officials, it is normal, why does Fan Shang always have such doubts?" Jin Liangyu said.

Fan Yongdou, Wang Dengku, Jin Liangyu, Wang Dayu, Liang Guest, Tian Shenglan, Zhai Tang and Huang Yunfa were the eight most powerful Jin merchants in Shanxi and even in the north in the late Qing Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty.

It was these eight people who continuously handed knives to the Manchu Qing Dynasty, allowing them to continue to thrive, and finally stabbed the Ming Dynasty with a giant blade in one fell swoop. Therefore, he was rewarded by the Qing court, and even personally feasted by Emperor Shunzhi, and was known as the Eight Great Emperor Shang.

At this moment, for the reward of Chongzhen's official title, they gathered together to discuss countermeasures.

Fan Yongdou said: "It is true that the imperial court lacks people, but it is not to the point of reaching out to merchants. ”

Jin Liangyu frowned: "What does Mr. Fan Shang mean?" ”

Seeing that Fan Yongdou was silent, Wang Dayu came forward and said: "I feel that the emperor is obviously an official, but he is actually asking for hostages. ”

Jin Liangyu was taken aback, this is not impossible.

There are many students in the world, and Chongzhen asked for more than 100 Jin merchants at once, which seems to be glorious, but there is indeed a risk of breaking off.

"I'll wait, Yu Qing has a lot of contacts, once the imperial court gets the evidence...... Wang Dayu said.

Everyone present listened to this, and they were terrified.

Fan Yongdou said slowly: "The old man is thinking about this. In addition, the lack of silver in the imperial court has been appropriate for a long time, and in the cellar of our etc., those white flowers and flowers, aren't they in the eyes of the emperor? ”

"If we surrender and sacrifice the city, will it be possible to lose both people and money?"

"Childish! Shen Wansan's ending, you don't know? ”

Hearing this, the trace of excitement in everyone's hearts disappeared.

"The owner, Hong Rupeng and Chang Lingxian, two generals, ask to meet." A merchant dared to call the military generals by name, but the people present were not surprised, but just listened indifferently.

"Let them in." Fan Yongdou said.

After a while, I heard footsteps outside the house, but I didn't see anyone, and I heard someone shouting: "Ladies and gentlemen, there is a great good thing, but you don't know the two of us?" ”

When the words fell, the two regular warriors entered the hall with a majestic step.

"The country is ruined, and three masters are changed in a month, what's the good thing?" Fan Yongdou didn't get up, the old god sat on the chair and said slowly.

"Mr. Fan Shang, don't hide it from the two of us, how can you hide the fact that the emperor wants to give you an official position?" Hong Rupeng shouted.

"It turned out to be this thing. I don't know what advice Master Hong has? Fan Yongdou said.

"The two of us killed the enemy in the city, and the eight of you asked for merit outside the city, and you got a reward, so you can't give us some?" Chang Lingxian brought a chair by herself and sat in the middle of the lobby with a big grin.