Four days later, Liu Yan, accompanied by Miao Shao and other guards, arrived in Jinan.

At this time, it is already the middle of October, and although the temperature in early autumn is still a little hot, it is already much better than in the middle of summer, and it already has a feeling of autumn high and refreshing. Liu Yan and others rode all the way, and the autumn wind blew on their bodies very comfortably, and even the mood of everyone became much better.

Liu Yan and others rode into the city, and the city of Jinan has been vigorously rectified by Lu Xiangsheng and Yan Jizu, and has resumed its former liveliness. Although the population and the number of merchants in the city had not fully recovered at this time, and it was the same as Bike before the Qing army moved south, it had swept away the previous decline and began to gradually recover its vitality.

"My lord, there is the Governor's Mansion in front of you."

Liu Yan nodded, and then looked at the shops on the street, there were many shops near the Governor's Palace, there were wine shops, restaurants, and all kinds of commercial goods such as silk and satin, Liu Yan even saw a shop selling colored glass, and the signboard was impressively written "Jimo colored glass, high quality" Eight big characters.

So Liu Yan said to Miao Shao: "Let's go over there first to buy some gifts, and we can't go over empty-handed to see Governor Lu." ”

"Yes."

Liu Yan led people to prepare two generous gifts for the shops along the way, and asked the shopkeeper of a store to write two gift lists and bring them, and then came to the governor's palace.

In the main hall, Lu Xiangsheng looked at the gift list in his hand, and saw that a whole page was written on the gift, which was estimated to be worth hundreds of taels of silver, so he shook his head and said: "You, come to this governor, and you are still doing these things." When you go, take all these gifts back, and the Governor does not want them. ”

Liu Yan said with a smile: "The governor is still his subordinates, they are all things that are useful, most of the governor's money is subsidized by the soldiers of the governor's standard battalion, and the governor's relatives can't be allowed to suffer too." If it were someone else, he wouldn't give things away, and he didn't bother to give things. ”

Lu Xiangsheng sighed and said, "Okay, then let's not take it as an example." ”

Lu Xiangsheng accepted the gift list, and then said: "Let's talk about it, you have made a lot of noise when you arrive in Qingzhou Mansion, what is the situation in Qinglai Town now?" ”

Liu Yan immediately reported his plans to implement new schools and military schools, as well as the implementation of new policies in various parts of Qinglai Town. Of course, Liu Yan naturally wouldn't say anything about the comfort officer.

Lu Xiangsheng frowned slightly after hearing this, and said, "New school? Military academy? Well, you have a good idea. Nowadays, the imperial court has taken the imperial examination, and the people admitted are those who are not practical, and if this new-style school can really teach practical talents, it is also a way to take scholars for the country. ”

"In addition, the idea of the military academy is also very good, but you have to beware of people with ulterior motives, the discussion of the military academy is too easy to remind people of other places, thinking that you Liu Yan are cultivating your own power."

Liu Yan said: "There must be such a small night, but the humble position is not worried, what can I do with such a small night?" ”

Lu Xiangsheng was noncommittal, and continued: "As for the new policy you are promoting, it does have the effect of enriching the country and strengthening the army, but it needs to completely break the original order of the local area, offend too many people, and implicate too widely. Now you are the chief military officer of a town, and you are no longer the commander of the original guard, you must be careful in everything, and the governor has seen too many people who fall because of arrogance in this position. ”

Liu Yan clenched his fists and said, "Xie Duchen cares." It's just that as the chief military officer of Qinglai Town, he must guard the place well, and what should be done must be done well, even if someone opposes it, the lowly position must be forcibly pushed down. ”

"Alas!"

Lu Xiangsheng said: "The governor knows that he can't persuade you, but you still have to be careful and think more about everything." ”

"Now that the governor and Yan Futai are rectifying all parts of Jinan Prefecture, they can be described as haggard during this period, and they know that it is not appropriate to be a political party. Because of this, the Doge is now much less angular, and has become a little less like himself. Sometimes, Ben Du really envy you, Liu Yan. ”

"The governor laughed, how can he be humble and make the governor envious."

"Hehe, Bendu just envy you, dare to think and dare to do, and have an indomitable spirit!"

Liu Yan said with a smile: "The lowly position is just a ruthlessness, the governor is the real minister, and there are many things to learn from the governor and ask for advice from the governor." ”

Later, Lu Xiangsheng asked again about the appropriateness of the reorganization of the new army.

Liu Yan said: "At present, all battalions of the New Army have been stationed in various parts of Qinglai Town, and the expansion and rectification are also in full swing. The recruits are mainly young and strong military households in various localities, supplemented by men from rural households, and the vacancies after the expansion of the battalions have basically been filled, and they are being drilled as soon as possible. ”

Lu Xiangsheng said with satisfaction: "In more than a month, 60,000 recruits were recruited, and the efficiency of the officials in Qinglai Town is really good. Is there enough money and food now? Is it fully armed? ”

Liu Yan doesn't need to hide it in front of Lu Xiangsheng, anyway, in Shandong, what Liu Yan's strength is, others don't know, Lu Xiangsheng can still see that eight or nine are not far from ten.

So Liu Yan said: "Qiqi Governor, at present, the armament of all departments of the new army is basically complete, and the money and food are still enough, but during this time, my Qinglai Town has a huge expenditure, and the money and food accumulated in the previous two years have been exhausted, and I am afraid that I will have a hard time next." ”

Lu Xiangsheng said: "This is not easy, Qinglai Town only has two states, and it is already commendable that you can raise so much money and food." ”

Then Lu Xiangsheng asked: "Liu Yan, you give this governor a good word, how long will it take for the new army to be reorganized?" ”

Liu Yan was shocked, and his mind began to quickly recall, is there something big about happening recently?

Immediately, Liu Yan thought that now Li Zicheng is making a lot of trouble in Henan and Shanxi, and there are already millions of soldiers and horses under his command, although a considerable part of the troops are coerced homeless people, and the combat power is very low, but the ants bite the elephant to death, and it is still very useful to consume the strength of the official army.

At this time, Li Zicheng's troops attacked cities and plundered villages in Henan, Shanxi and other places, almost to the point of entering a no-man's land. On the imperial court, after Zheng Chongjian, the governor of Shaanxi, led He Renlong and Li Guoqi to return to Shaanxi, he has been wandering at the junction of Shaanxi and Shanxi, afraid of Li Zicheng's troops, and did not dare to attack and fight.

Yang Sichang's elite battalion led by Yang Sichang was still stagnant in the Huguang area at this time, and Yang Sichang's condition continued to deteriorate at this time, and it had reached the point where he could not get out of bed.

"So ......"

Liu Yan had confidence in his heart at this time, it must be Lu Xiangsheng who saw the situation in the world, and it was expected that most of the imperial court would recruit elites to fight Li Zicheng's troops again, and Shandong soldiers and horses had performed very dazzling in recent wars.

Thinking of this, Liu Yan sighed and said secretly: "No matter what Lu Xiangsheng says, I can't go to Li Zicheng's side, because in a few months, the Jinzhou side will start fighting!" ”

In a few months, not only will Li Zicheng capture Luoyang, kill the vassal king, and increase the momentum, but the battle of Songjin in Liaodong will also start.

If there is not much deviation in the course of history, Hong Chengchou will inevitably be defeated and captured, the situation in Liaodong will be completely ruined, and when the Qing army moves south, Shandong will inevitably be impacted.

For Liu Yan, the best choice is to stand still, develop at this time, continue to hoard money and food, and train soldiers and horses to cope with the great changes.

The second medium choice is for Liu Yan to lead his troops to participate in the Battle of Songjin, and it is best to inflict heavy losses on the Qing army in Liaodong, so that he can also strive for a good development environment for himself and take the opportunity to obtain more development resources. After all, the benefits brought by the heavy damage to the Qing army are very many, the war exploits are more valuable, the rewards of the imperial court are more generous, and the captured money, food, and armaments are more and better.

And the worst choice is to play against Li Zicheng.

Liu Yan knew very well that there were not only many thieves and horses, but also gathered and dispersed freely, which was far more difficult to deal with than Zhang Xianzhong's troops.

Although Liu Yan is confident that he can defeat Li Zicheng, the cost and money consumed are far greater than the benefits. The head of the thief is not valuable, if you can't behead Li Zicheng and other thieves, even if you behead thousands or tens of thousands, it is not a big achievement.

Moreover, the thieves are poor, and there will be almost no decent seizures after the war, but they will have to supply the captive exiles. Once Li Zicheng made a comeback, those outcasts turned into rogue soldiers, and such examples abound.

"It's better to say no."

Although Liu Yan thought a lot, it was only for a moment, and then he clasped his fists and said: "Governor Mingjian, the new army has been expanded and rectified this time, and the strength of the new army has surged from more than 20,000 to more than 80,000, and the original structure of the new army has been disrupted, and now the battalions of the new army are basically reorganized, and the overall combat strength has declined very quickly. ”

"Because of this, it takes time to be humble, and only by spending enough time to train the officers and men of each battalion can the combat effectiveness of each battalion of the new army be enhanced."

Lu Xiangsheng nodded in agreement, after all, he is also a veteran who has led the army for a long time, Liu Yan's words are reasonable, although he hopes that the new army will be trained as soon as possible, but he can only agree: "Then according to your estimate, how long will it take for the battalions of the new army to become an army?" ”

Liu Yan said: "It can be as short as half a year, or as long as ten months. This is already the fastest speed. ”

After Liu Yan finished speaking, he secretly said in his heart: "According to the course of history, Li Zicheng will capture Luoyang in the spring of next year, and after half a year, it will be too late, at least I am not ready to go to the war to encircle and suppress Li Zicheng!" ”

Lu Xiangsheng sighed when he heard this, and then didn't say anything, just a little disappointed.

On that day, Liu Yan talked with Lu Xiangsheng for a long time, and it was not until the evening that he got up to say goodbye and prepare to settle down in the hall.

"I will go to the governor's yamen to meet Yan Futai early tomorrow morning, and then go to the palace of King De to meet His Royal Highness King De. After the deed, he will return to the Qingzhou capital city, and then he will come to resign to the governor. ”

Lu Xiangsheng took Liu Yan's hand and said, "Tomorrow, after you meet His Royal Highness King De and Yan Futai, you will go back immediately, and you don't need to come to see me again." When you return, you must do your best to train your troops and prepare them for battle. For example, today's chaotic thieves are strong, and the slaves and thieves outside the gate are even more ready to move, and their troops have appeared in the Jinzhou area, and there is a great tendency to besiege them in the south. The situation has deteriorated to this point, you and I must serve the country with all our hearts, and we must not slack off for a day! ”

Liu Yan hugged his fists and took his life.

When Liu Yan left the Governor's Mansion, Miao Shao led his troops to accompany him and asked, "My lord, let's go to the pavilion to rest." ”

Liu Yan looked at the sky and saw that it was not yet dark, so he said: "Go to the governor's yamen, and if you go to the Dewang Mansion tomorrow morning, you will return to Qingzhou Mansion immediately." ”

Some people died, but not completely......