More than ten miles north of Linqingzhou, a Qing army was marching south along the east bank of the canal.

The military commander is tall, full of beard, wearing bright yellow cotton armor with red edges, wearing a bowl on his head, the tasseled spear on the top of the helmet is two feet high, and the scarlet tassel is swaying slightly in the wind, looking quite windy.

This military general is none other than Jiannu with the Yellow Banner Baya Lama Zhangjing Aobai.

The current situation is slightly different from that in history, in history, it was the red flag that cooperated with Wang Aoyong to appease Shandong, and the leader was Gushan Ezhen Yechen, but now it has been replaced with a yellow flag, and the leading general has also become a Baiyin map.

However, the number of troops used is still not much, only the two Jiala inlaid with the yellow flag and the ten Niu Lu of the Han army of the yellow flag, in addition to more than 3,000 coats and 3,000 Ming Dynasty troops.

The total number of troops was only 12,000.

Among them, there are only more than 3,000 Jiannu.

After entering the boundary of Shandong from Dezhou, the troops were divided into two routes, one was led by the Yellow Banner Gushan Ezhen Baiyintu through the plains and Yucheng to Jinan, the capital of Shandong, by land, and the other was led by Baya Laqizhang Jingao Bai as the main general, and the Yellow Banner Han Army Gushan Ezhen Zu Zerun was the deputy general, and continued to go south along the Grand Canal to Yanzhou Mansion.

From this, it can be seen that Dolgon's ambitions are not great.

At least at this time, Dolgon had not yet thought of dominating China.

Otherwise, he would not have just sent a detachment of less than 20,000 people to the south, which was completely a kind of political speculation, to see if there was anything to take advantage of, if there was a little, if not, he would pull down.

In Dorgon's own words, but an inch is an inch, and a point is a point.

Therefore, there is no sense of urgency in Aobai, just traveling south along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

However, what Ao Bai never expected was that the road was unusually smooth, and the soldiers were heading, and the ancient cities and Wucheng counties along the canal were all looking at the wind.

In fact, at this time, the edict canceling the shaving order has spread throughout Beizhi, and has also spread to the ancient city and Wucheng counties adjacent to Beizhi.

There is no reason to resist, the Ming Dynasty is already rotten, isn't it good to change the court?

Therefore, along the way, several county towns surrendered, and Jiannu was also ceremoniously welcomed by the local gentry and people, and Ao Bai did not burn and plunder according to Dorgon's orders.

This situation gave Ao Bai a strong illusion.

As long as the Qing soldiers arrive, Dongchang Mansion and even Yanzhou Mansion will also surrender after hearing the news.

It is precisely because of such a psychological expectation that the news suddenly came back that night, saying that the officials and gentry and people in a certain place refused to surrender, and Ao Bai would be extremely angry.

Suddenly there was the sound of horses' hooves ahead.

Immediately, a small group galloped back at night.

The leader was Yabulan, who had just been promoted to the white-armored soldier, and there was an arrow stuck in the cotton armor.

Seeing this, Ao Bai frowned and asked, "Yabran, what's going on?" Got a thief? ”

In the imagination of Aobai and even all Jiannu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong, and Henan are all the territory of thieves, so Yabulan can only encounter thieves.

As for the Ming Dynasty, it has already shrunk to the south of the Yangtze River.

However, Yabran's answer made Ao Bai stunned for a moment.

"Lord Hui, not a thief." Yabulan said, "It's the Ming army!" ”

"What, Ming Jun?" Ao Bai was stunned and said, "Didn't Wang Aoyong and those former Ming generals say that the Ming army has retreated to the south of the Yangtze River, how can there still be a Ming army in Shandong?" ”

"The end is not clear." Yabulan said, "But it's really the Ming army." ”

As soon as Ao Bailuo groaned, he sent someone to call Zu Zerun and Gao Di to him.

Gao Di was the former commander-in-chief of Shanhaiguan, and followed Wu Sangui to surrender to the Qing Dynasty, and after the surrender, his 10,000 troops were eliminated by Dolgon, and only 3,000 people remained.

This time, Gao Di also came to Shandong.

To put it bluntly, he came to serve as cannon fodder for Jiannu.

"Zu Zerun." Ao Bai has always looked down on the Han people, so he also called Zu Zerun by his name, "Your Han military flag protects the baggage, and the speed of action is too slow, just take a boat to follow up slowly, we have to take the first step." ”

Zu Zerun didn't dare to stop him, but just advised: "Adults must be careful. ”

"Take care of yourself." Ao Bai snorted, and then beat the horse and walked away.

In less than half an hour, Ao Bai rushed to Linqing City with more than 1,500 Eight Banner soldiers, more than 1,500 clothed minions and more than 3,000 surrendered troops.

I saw that the sun and moon flag of the Ming Dynasty fluttered on the head of the city, and it was very easy to identify, Ao Bai fought with the Ming army in western Liaoning for more than ten years, and was deeply impressed by the sun and moon flag of the Ming Dynasty.

Ao Bai said to Gao Di: "You go and persuade them to surrender." ”

Gao Di had no choice but to hit his horse and come to Linqing City Pass.

"Dare to ask who is in the city?" Gaudí arched.

"The Ming Dynasty is in Qingzhou, and the governor of Lingzhou is here." A young official wearing a black veil and a green robe appeared at the head of the city, and after a pause, he asked, "Dare to ask who is next?" ”

Gaudi didn't know how to answer.

After a long time, Gao Di said: "The Qing Heavenly Soldiers have arrived, why don't Lord Ling descend early?" ”

Ling was stunned: "This official only knows that there are Jiannu outside the customs, but he doesn't know that there is a so-called Great Qing Dynasty, dare to ask what the Great Qing Dynasty is?" ”

Gao Di frowned and said: "If Lord Ling knows each other, he should hurry up and surrender the city, otherwise the Qing army will drive the army to attack the city, and Linqing will be burned, so think twice." ”

"No need." Ling Xiao said suddenly.

"Just let Jiannu let the horses come."

"Linqing City is not something they can fight if they want to."

"I only have Zhizhou who died in battle, and there are no cowards who surrendered."

Gao Di had no choice but to repay Aobai: "My lord, the Ming army in the city refuses to surrender." ”

"They're looking for death." Ao Bai was immediately furious, "Gaodi, you go to collect wood, and prepare to build a ladder and ants to attack the city." ”

"Huh!" Although Gao Di was full of reluctance, he could only agree, not allowed, and should not be allowed to kill people, this guy is extremely hostile to the Han people.

……

At the same time in Xuzhou.

Chongzhen had already told Du Yinxi about the entire strategic concept of the Huanghuai defensive line.

Looking at the sand table in front of him, Du Yinxi could not hide the shock in his heart, one was to shock the grandeur of the entire Huanghuai defense line concept, and the other was to shock Chongzhen's foresight.

I didn't expect that the Holy Lord not only knew the soldiers, but also had such foresight.

It is expected to defend the half of the south of the Yangtze River.

Plugging Yin and Pingping boasted that he was also a visionary, but in terms of the concept of the Huanghuai defense line, he was not as far-reaching as Chongzhen, especially in the perception of the threat of Jiannu.

But what puzzled Du Yinxi was, why did Chongzhen tell him this?

"Because I can't stay in Xuzhou all the time." Chongzhen said, "After withstanding the first wave of Jiannu's attack, I had to rush back to Nanjing to raise food and raise reinforcements. ”

"Otherwise, there will be no second wave of attack by the Seru."

"The first wave of Jiannu's attack was just a tentative attack."

"But in the second wave of attacks, Jiannu will definitely go all out."

After a pause, Chongzhen said again: "In case I don't have time to rush back to Xuzhou, I have to rely on you to preside over the overall situation." ”

"Holy!" Plug Yinxi instantly felt his blood surge, and at the same time he was a little frightened, "I'm afraid that the minister can't afford this heavy responsibility, do you want to choose another important minister to sit in charge?" ”

"No, you can afford it." Chongzhen patted Yinxi.

"You have shown outstanding ability in the Beixin Banknote Pass and the Changsha Prefect."

"Also, you don't have to stress too much, because I won't leave Xuzhou right away."

After a pause, Chongzhen said again: "And at this stage, you only need to be in charge of Tuntian affairs." ”

Hearing this, Du Yinxi breathed a sigh of relief, if it was just Tuntian, then there would be no pressure.

While the two monarchs and ministers were talking, Wang Chengen came in and reported: "Long live the lord, Nanjing's boat has arrived." ”

"Nanjing's boat has arrived?" Chongzhen was overjoyed and said, "Where?" Who is in charge of escorting the ship? ”

"It's the new Zuodu Imperial History, Liu Zongzhou, Boss." Wang Chengen said respectfully, "Just waiting outside the gate." ”

"Zuodu Yushi Liu Zongzhou?" Chongzhen bowed his head lightly when he heard this, and said in his heart that Liu Zongzhou, the master of science, was still invited into the court by the Donglin Party as expected.

It's to put pressure on him, right?

At that moment, Chongzhen shook his hand and said, "Please let him in." ”

After a while, a thin old man was ushered in.

Liu Zongzhou is sixty-seven years old and is in his last years.

In fact, Liu Zongzhou will not live for a few years.

Chongzhen didn't dare to let him bow down, and hugged him early: "Mr. Qishan has worked hard all the way. ”

"The old minister is not hard." Liu Zongzhou waved his hand and said, "It's just that there is a heartfelt sentence that is not unhappy, the saint is the king of a country, not the governor of the border town, how can he stay in Xuzhou for a long time?" ”

Sure enough, the Donglin Party brought out Liu Zongzhou in order to put pressure on him.

The Donglin Party still hoped that he would return to Nanjing to be a good emperor.

The reason is not complicated, because with him Chongzhen in Xuzhou, there are many things that are not easy to operate, such as the drifting of Caoyun, and there is no way to hide it.

So Chongzhen didn't pick up this stubble.

Chongzhen asked directly: "Mr. Yingshan, how many of the tiger squat cannons, Franco cannons and various firearms that I told the cabinet to collect this time have been sent?" And the 1.8 million taels of silver that the Ministry of Household gave to the Yamen of Caoyun, the governor of Caoyun, have you ever given enough? Did the remaining 1.8 million taels of silver be sent to Xuzhou? ”

"Are there so many?" Liu Zongzhou was stunned for a moment when he heard this.

"As far as the old minister knows, the silver that Xie gave to the Yamen of Caoyun, the governor of Caoyun, is only 1 million taels, and another 800,000 taels are entrusted to the old minister to come to Xuzhou for the holy use."

Chongzhen's face collapsed in an instant.

3.6 million taels became 1.8 million taels?

This is drifting and sinking, which is too much!

When has this been, and is there still an unspoken rule of officialdom?

This is the salary of the soldiers in the border towns on the front line, and they dare to drift away?

Chongzhen felt an inexplicable anger brewing in his chest.

No wonder some people say that the Ming Dynasty did not die in natural disasters, thieves or slaves, but actually died in drifting, which actually has a certain amount of truth, according to this method, no matter how strong the finance can not bear.

What's more, the Ming Dynasty's finances have been extremely depleted.