Sun Chengzong was summoned by Ye Xianggao on June 15, the third year of the Apocalypse.

Ye Xianggao confided in him that Wang Zaijin and Yuan Chonghuan were stationed at Shanhaiguan, or Ningyuan garrison and Xu Tu recovered Jinzhou.

After hearing Ye Xianggao's doubts, Sun Chengzong immediately said: "What is the situation of the Thirteen Mountains Righteous Army? What are the specific movements of Jianyu, you can only know if you don't go to the front line in person.

Ye Shoufu, you are not in good health, and you have the important responsibility of governing the country, so it is inconvenient to go in person.

Sun Mou is still in the military department, and this matter should be handled by Sun himself. ”

Hearing this, Ye Xianggao was so happy, and finally came a slightly more reliable person.

Yuan Chonghuan once went to Shanhaiguan to investigate, and now Sun Chengzong has also gone to the front line to investigate.

If the princes of the Ming Dynasty are like them, they will have a lot of peace of mind.

So, Ye Xianggao immediately expressed his support: "This is very good, I will play the emperor and send my subordinates to Shanhaiguan to inspect." ”

"Then I'll go back and prepare, and the holy decree will set off immediately."

"Very good."

After Ye Xianggao Sun Chengzong left, he immediately took up a pen and wrote a notebook, begging the emperor to allow Sun Chengzong to go to Shanhaiguan for inspection.

The recital was handed to the Emperor of the Apocalypse by Wei Zhongxian.

At this time, the Emperor of the Apocalypse was looking at Yang Chengying's thanksgiving fold.

"This Yang Chengying is really interesting."

Zhu Youxiao said with a smile: "Some time ago, it was reported that Yang Chengying strongly opposed this family business, and now he is so well-behaved, and he also wrote a recital of thanksgiving.

It is also interesting to ask the princess to give a name to the newly made cannon. ”

Wei Zhongxian bent down and bowed his head with a respectful expression: "It should be Xu Guangqi who persuaded him, and he gladly accepted it." ”

"Xu Guangqi has merit and should be rewarded. In addition, he told Yuan Keli that the people sent to investigate the affairs of Chao Xian should not be harsh, and save some face for Yang Chengying. ”

"Yes, the old slave will do it when he goes down."

As he spoke, Wei Zhongxian took out the recital from his sleeve: "Ye Xianggao plays, please allow Your Majesty to allow Sun Chengzong, the secretary of the Ministry of War, to inspect Shanhaiguan." ”

"Exactly."

Zhu Youxiao agreed without thinking about it.

Shanhaiguan garrisoned 100,000 soldiers, consuming a large amount of money and food every day.

Seeing that the internal money accumulated by the emperor's grandfather was being spent less and less by himself and Wei Zhongxian, he was inevitably anxious.

Let Sun Chengzong go to Shanhaiguan, in case he finds that there is no need to garrison troops, he can agree to reduce expenses.

The holy decree was issued, and Sun Chengzong set off for Shanhaiguan.

When Wang Zaijin learned of this, although he was annoyed by Yuan Chonghuan's "backstabbing", he still had to temporarily give up the attack on Yuan Chonghuan and prepare to meet Sun Chengzong.

On the 20th, Sun Chengzong arrived at Shanhaiguan to inspect the defense line built by Wang Zaijin.

He was stunned to find that Wang Zaijin's strategy was to build another line of defense in Balipu outside Shanhaiguan.

Seeing this city defense, Sun Chengzong called Wang Zaijin and asked, "Lord Wang, you have built a new city, do you want to defend the 40,000 people in the old city?" ”

"Not really."

Wang Zaijin replied: "After the new city is built, I will double the number of troops used to defend the new city. ”

"Then you mean to put 80,000 people in the new city.

Then the new city is backed by the old city, once the new city is broken, the new city will break and flee to the old city, and how to deal with it.

If the new city can be kept, why do you need the old city?

If the new city can't be defended, do you want to open and close the rescue, or close the door? ”

Sun Chengzong has been an official in the court for many years, and his tone of speech is calm and steady, but the content of what he says is heartfelt.

After hearing this, Wang Zaijin said in his heart that Sun Shangshu was here to trouble me. Hey, it would be nice if the former military department was still there, worry-free.

Faced with Sun Chengzong's questioning, Wang Zaijin did not dare not answer: "Old Sun, even if the new city is breached, the defeated troops can escape through the three passes outside the pass." ”

"That's not like it will be used by Jianyu to break the army and attack Shanhaiguan." Sun Chengzong asked rhetorically.

"I will build three stockades on the mountain and accept the rout."

Wang Zaijin hurriedly replied.

Sun Chengzong was a little speechless.

Before the rout, Wang Zaijin was ready to build a special stockade to accept the rout, which was not to encourage the soldiers to flee.

The soldiers have all run away, and the new city will not be easily obtained by the builders, so it is not a waste of money to build this new city.

"Forget it, let's stop here."

Sun Chengzong glanced at everyone and asked, "Which one is Yuan Chonghuan?" ”

A middle-aged man who was not tall and slightly dark-skinned came out of the ranks, and arched his hand and said, "The next official is Yuan Chonghuan." ”

"You advocate stationing troops in Ningyuan, what is the reason?"

"There are three reasons, first, Ningyuan is far away from Jinzhou and Quang Ninh, so he can avoid the enemy's edge and have time to build a new city.

Second, after the completion of the cultivation, he peeked into Jinzhou, and rescued the forces of the Thirteen Mountains Rebellion and other people who spontaneously organized to resist Jianyu.

Third, Ningyuan, as the gateway to western Liaoning, is not as good as Jinzhou, but it can initially play a role in containment. ”

Yuan Chonghuan thought about these words for a long time, and said them all in one go.

Sun Chengzong listened and nodded frequently.

Subsequently, he asked Wang Zaijin to lead the way and inspected a piece of stone and other places.

In the process of inspection, Sun Chengzong listened to Yan Mingtai's opinions again.

At this point, he had already made a decision deep down.

But his decision cost the life of the Thirteen Mountains Rebels.

Because Sun Chengzong decided to reconcile Wang Zaijin's plan with the opinions of Yuan Chonghuan and Yan Mingtai.

First of all, he went to the imperial court to stop the king's construction of a new city in Jin, and used the saved funds to appease the Liao people.

Secondly, do not directly recover Ningyuan, because the two red flags of Daishan are in Guangning, and Sun Chengzong thinks that this is still too dangerous.

How?

Sun Chengzong played the imperial court, let Yan Mingtai and Yuan Chonghuan be partners, and placed the Liao people who were recruited in the Zhongqian and Qiantun areas, so that this area could be successfully stabilized.

Then he slowly recovered in the direction of Ningyuan.

As for the life or death of the Thirteen Mountains Righteous Army, Sun Chengzong decided not to care about it for the time being.

In fact, he couldn't control it.

Because he only decided, and had not yet been approved by the imperial court.

This aroused Yuan Chonghuan's opposition.

Before Sun Chengzong left, Yuan Chonghuan took the initiative to find him: "The Thirteen Mountains Righteous Army must respond whether it is true or false, and these heroes who have been fighting with Jianyu for months are the best source of soldiers. ”

"Although I am the secretary of the military department of the imperial court, I have no right to mobilize troops and horses at this time, and I need to go back to Emperor Ming, and the emperor will decide."

Sun Chengzong said: "Moreover, Jianyu is close at hand, and he is powerless to rescue him if he wants to. ”

Yuan Chonghuan was anxious: "Even if you don't save it, you should take advantage of the lack of skills in Jianyu, enter Ningyuan, and build a city, why stay in the Zhongqian and Qiantun areas." ”

"The momentum of construction is great, we should be steady and steady, step by step."

For Yuan Chonghuan, Sun Chengzong was very patient: "You didn't see Jinzhou Town and built the new city in Xintun, how far is it from Gaizhou." ”

"It's just different."

Yuan Chonghuan disagrees with this comparison: "Further north of Jinzhou Town is an open area, and it is of little significance for Yang Chengying to repair the city.

In the same way, we should fix in key positions, not waste money in such places that can be attacked at any time. ”

"There is some truth in your words, but you should hurry up and implement the strategy I have made."

Sun Chengzong motioned for him to step aside.

Yuan Chonghuan reluctantly chose to leave.