After Liu Yan and Wu Sangui drank a few bowls of wine, Cao Bianjiao, Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, Wang Tingchen and others came over one after another and took turns to toast Liu Yan.

In the face of everyone's respect, Liu Yan naturally did not refuse to come, and fought with everyone to drink, which made Hong Chengchou's table very warm.

In this banquet, many people were drunk, but Rao is Liu Yan drank very well, and when he walked out of the Governor's Palace, he was also staggering.

But fortunately, Liu Yan was still quite sober, like Ma Ke and Bai Guangen, who were already drunk and unconscious at this time, and were directly carried back by their own soldiers.

Miao Shao was waiting outside early, and when he saw Liu Yan coming out, he beckoned two guards to come forward to help, and asked, "Can adults still ride horses?" Why don't you go and find a carriage? ”

"You don't need to, just ride a horse."

Before leaving, Liu Yan hugged his fists and said goodbye to Hong Chengchou who sent everyone out, although Hong Chengchou also smiled and returned the salute with Liu Yan, but Liu Yan always felt that Hong Chengchou seemed to be smiling strongly, and there was a trace of anxiety between his eyebrows.

Early the next morning, Liu Yan was dizzy, and just about to freshen up, he received an order from Hong Chengchou to convene a military meeting. Liu Yan didn't dare to slack off, and hurried to the Governor's Palace.

In the lobby of the Governor's Palace, the chief military officers and officers of the towns of the Ming army sat in columns, Hong Chengchou, as the governor of Jiliao, nominally the reinforcements and the Liaodong Army were under his control, and he was sitting at the top in the middle of the danger, and the left and right staff stood solemnly and waited.

On the left hand side of Hong Chengchou, Ma Shaoyu, the supervising army, and Zhang Ruoqi, the supervising army, were the leaders, followed by Qiu Minyang, the governor of Liaodong, Zhang Dou, Yao Gong, Wang Zhizhen, Cai Maode, and Yuan Guodong, Zhu Tingxie, Zhang Weimin, Yan Jixian, etc.

On Hong Chengchou's right hand, Liu Yan sat at the head of the generals, followed by Yang Guozhu, the chief military officer of Xuanfu Town, Bai Guangen, the chief military officer of Jizhou Town, Liu Zhaoji, the chief military officer of Liaodong Town, Li Fuming, the chief military officer of Shanxi Town, Wang Pu, the chief military officer of Datong Town, Zuo Guangxian, the chief military officer of Shanhaiguan Town, Ma Ke, the chief military officer of Shanhaiguan Town, Cao Bianjiao, the chief military officer of the East China Association, Wang Tingchen, the chief military officer of Qiantun Guard, Tang Tong, the chief military officer of Miyun Town, and Wu Sangui, the chief military officer of Ningyuan, sat according to their shifts.

Liu Yan swept through everyone and saw that the generals who could join the governor's deliberations today were all at the level of chief military officers, which showed that the specifications of today's military discussions were so high that they must decide the details of the Jinzhou War.

At this time, Hong Chengchou saw that everyone was in place one by one, so he stroked his beard and said with a smile: "The battle situation in Liaodong has affected the minds of the saints and the government and the opposition. ”

Hong Chengchou changed his words at this time and said: "But since the army of slaves and thieves began to Tunyizhou and besieged Jinzhou, the governor led the crowd to the rescue, and the officers and soldiers fought hard to defend and killed many thieves. However, the slaves and thieves were powerful, and the siege of Jinzhou could not be lifted for a long time, so the imperial court gathered elites from all walks of life to rescue. ”

"Now the Songshan and Xingshan forts are more urgent, and the rebels are supporting the people to attack urgently, and the Songshan and Xingshan forts are already in danger!"

Liu Yan said secretly: "It seems that Hong Chengchou has received the news yesterday, but he won't say it until today, so he is really calm." ”

At this time, Zhang Dou said worriedly: "The thieves and slaves suddenly attacked Songjin very urgently, obviously to force our army to rescue as soon as possible, the army of slaves and thieves must be ready to ambush halfway, the strategy of encircling the point to help is the usual trick of the slaves and thieves, and our army must be vigilant." ”

Yao Gong said: "The slaves and thieves are attacking urgently, the situation in Jinzhou cannot be delayed, even if the slaves and thieves have plans to encircle the point and send reinforcements, our army must go to the rescue as soon as possible, otherwise Jinzhou is in danger!" ”

The king of armament Zhizhen disagreed, and retorted: "The thief slave must have a plan for this, and we need to be careful to avoid falling into the thieves' tricks." ”

At this time, Cai Maode said: "According to the Tang newspaper sent by Yebu, there are more and more slaves and thieves in Songjin, are they increasing their troops?" ”

Everyone whispered, if the Qing army also increased its troops on a large scale, then the battle of Jinzhou would not be a rescue battle, but a strategic decisive battle between the two countries.

Liu Yan also frowned, during the Battle of Songjin in history, the Manchu Qing Dynasty successively mobilized more than 200,000 troops, in fact, it surpassed the Ming army in terms of troops.

At this time, the Manchu Qing Dynasty had reached its peak after many raids and raids, and the population had reached its peak.

However, Liu Yan also knew that among the more than 200,000 troops of the Qing army, a large part of them were unarmored bannermen of various banners, as well as clothed minions or something, and their combat power was not as good as that of the Eight Banners Army, but the prestige caused was still great.

Cai Maode then asked: "Governor, how many soldiers and horses are there in the current army of slaves and thieves in the Songjin area?" ”

Everyone present listened carefully, Hong Chengchou just shook his head: "The sentry has a rough estimate that it has exceeded 80,000, and it is difficult to investigate the actual number." ”

Liu Yan sighed in his heart: "Seeing that the big war is about to start, but I don't even know the exact number of troops of the Qing army, and the night of the Ming army is too weak!" ”

Zhang Ruoqi, the superintendent, said: "Now that all my Wang divisions have arrived, Jinzhou is in danger now, and my reinforcements need to go to Songjin as soon as possible, if Jinzhou is captured by thieves." Then that's all over. We can't explain it to the court or to Your Majesty! ”

Hong Chengchou did not follow Zhang Ruoqi at this time, but shook his head and said: "The current layout of the slave and thief forces has not been clarified, and the number of the slave and thief army is not known, how can you rush to the army?" ”

Bingbei Dao Zhang Dou, Wang Zhizhen, and Cai Maode are all attached. It is believed that the soldiers are in danger of war, and they should not act hastily, lest they fall into the tricks of thieves. All parties have to find out.

The audience was arguing, Zhang Ruoqi frowned, and he stood up suddenly. shouted loudly: "I am afraid of wolves and tigers before, and I am afraid of war!" Dare to ask the princes, if the delay in marching and the fall of Jinzhou will lead to the fall of Jinzhou, how can the princes explain to the saint? Confess to Lord Chen? If the princes cannot make a decision, the official will write to the court, and the saint will decide it! ”33

Ma Shaoyu on the side also stood up and said: "What Zhang Jianjun said is very true, I waited thousands of miles to come here just to rescue Jinzhou, and now Jinzhou is in danger, why didn't the army move?" With so many elites here, even if the thieves increase their troops, they are not afraid! ”

As the two overseers changed color, the atmosphere in the lobby suddenly became solemn.

Hong Chengchou's eyes were cold when he saw this, Zhang Ruoqi and Ma Shaoyu were just two small characters in the military department, and they were really rude to shout at themselves! What are the two of them, and what are they themselves? When you become a prisoner, you have a tail!

However, Hong Chengchou's self-cultivation is still good, frowning slightly but not speaking, just groaning.

After a moment, Hong Chengchou looked at Liu Yan. Liu Yan broke the slave thieves in Julu and Jinan, and the beheadings were very heavy, so Liu Yan's words were the most weighty among the generals, Hong Chengchou wanted to hear Liu Yan's opinion: "What does General Liu think?" ”

Everyone's eyes were focused on Liu Yan, at this time, the superintendent did not ask the rest of the general officers, not even Wu Sangui, but only asked Liu Yan, which shows Liu Yan's status in Hong Chengchou's heart.

Liu Yan pondered for a moment, according to the current situation, the Qing army has increased its troops earlier than in history, and this battle will be fought sooner or later.

So Liu Yan said: "Qiyu Governor, the slave thief's treacherous plan is obvious, that is, to force our army to rush to Jinzhou, so as to encircle the point and send reinforcements." But so what? As long as our army is a battalion step by step, and each battalion sends more sentry scouts, the possibility of being ambushed is extremely rare. There are many soldiers from the slaves, and our army happens to fight with them, and if there are few soldiers coming, our army will concentrate its forces and eat a part of it, which will demoralize its troops! ”

Yang Guozhu, Cao Bianjiao, Wang Tingchen and others agreed, and a cadre of veterans such as Liu Zhaoji, Li Fuming, and Zuo Guangxian all nodded and thought it was feasible. This is also the best of both worlds, which is controversial between the two sides.

Zhang Ruoqi laughed and said: "That's right, General Liu's words are very much in line with my heart, our army must not advance in a hurry, nor can it be feared, but the division will march immediately, that is for sure." ”

He saluted Hong Chengchou and said: "The official is a little anxious, but he is also a public heart, and I hope that Inspector Hong will not mind." ”

Hong Chengchou smiled and said: "There is Zhang Langzhong's praise of the painting strategy, which is the blessing of the governor, how can the governor mind?" Zhang Langzhong, please take a seat. ”

After that, when it came to the opening of the army, according to the current situation, the main dangerous place for the Wang division to march was the area of Songshan and Xingshan that passed Tashan City. According to Hong Chengchou's arrangement, there are many hilly mountains in the Xingshan area, and it is feasible to walk and carry, and Songshan is flat all the way, which is conducive to cavalry travel.

Hong Chengchou has been in Liaodong for a long time and knows the local situation. There was no objection to this arrangement.

At this time, Liu Yan saw that Hong Chengchou was slow to talk about the back road, such as how to arrange the defenders in Xingshan and other places. Liu Yan said: "Governor, the last general is a little worried about the rear road of our army, I don't know how the army can ensure the safety of the grain road?" ”

Hong Chengchou looked mild, and didn't seem to mind Wang Pu's interjection, but he hadn't answered questions yet, but Ma Ke said: "What does General Liu mean, do you divide the army after it arrives at Xingshan?" ”

"Now there are more and more slaves. If you force the car battalion, the whole division gathers. It can also be both defensive and combat. If the troops are divided and the thieves are broken, will this responsibility be borne by Mr. Liu? ”

Liu Yan said coldly: "If you don't defend the back road, the slaves and thieves will send troops to cut off my food route, so that the army will be defeated, will this responsibility be borne by the general soldier?" ”

Ma Ke stood up abruptly and said loudly: "It is said that the new army is strong, but it turns out that it is so timid, what is said to defend the back road, it is just that General Liu is afraid of the battle!" ”

Liu Yan said: "Then how about we have a competition?" Compared with the number of beheaded slaves and thieves in this battle, I win, kill you, you win, kill me, dare to compare? ”

Ma Ke stopped talking, he didn't have the courage to compare this, after all, the number of Liu Yan's beheadings was real, who would dare to compare the number of beheadings with him?

Seeing this, the generals in the hall persuaded one after another, and Tang Tong, the chief military officer of Miyun, came over to the round, and finally Ma Ke sat down angrily, but he still glared at Liu Yan from time to time.

The civil officials turned a blind eye to the fighting between the martial artists, in fact, they were also happy to see it, and the superintendent Zhang Ruoqi said at this time: "General Liu pointed out the matter of the back road of grain and grass, I don't know if the governor can have relevant arrangements?" ”

Hong Chengchou smiled and said: "Naturally, there are arrangements, this governor is ready to order Qian Youlu, the general of the right battalion of the front of the department, Dou Chenglie, the general of the general patrol, and Zheng Yilin, the deputy general of Xingshan Road, to accompany the deputy generals of the Songxing Defense Battalion, such as Xia Chengde, Chi Fenggao, Tong Hanbang, Wang Jiaji, and Yu Yingxuan, and supervise Liu Zhaoji, the chief military officer of Liaodong, and stationed in the forts of Xingshan, which will definitely protect the back road and prevent the slaves and thieves from attacking from the northwest wilderness of Xingshan. ”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts, but Liu Yan shook his head, it seems that Hong Chengchou left many people to garrison the back road, but the number of troops is still too small, most of these battalions are one or two thousand people, although there are many generals, the total number of soldiers and horses is less than 30,000, and they are not strong enough, they are all "miscellaneous troops" with sparse combat strength.

In history, Hong Chengchou also arranged it in this way, under the fierce attack of Huang Taiji's army, those defenders did not hold out for even half an hour, and the contact between Songshan and Xingshan and other places was immediately interrupted.

Zhang Ruoqi also saw this, frowned, and said, "The generals who came to the aid, don't arrange a few?" ”

Liu Yan was listening to the conversation with the emperor that day, and his memory was still fresh, and he felt that there were too few troops to protect the back road.

Hong Chengchou was very unhappy when he saw this, he had been in the position of supervisor for a long time, and he was very confident in his strategy, and led his troops to rescue him several times, most of them were safe and sound, which enhanced his confidence. In his opinion, Xingshan and other places have arranged it like this, and Zhang Ruoqi is still questioning himself in front of everyone?

However, on the surface, Hong Chengchou was as gentle as ever, and he did not say to Zhang Ruoqi, but patiently explained: "Today, the slaves and thieves are powerful, and the strength of our army is not superior. The troops left behind in the back road are sufficient, and the distance between Songshan and Xingshan is not far away, if the slaves and thieves take advantage of the weakness to enter and cut off our back road, our army can also return to the army to rescue. If the troops are divided, how can the story of Salhu be repeated? ”

Zhang Ruoqi was dumbfounded for a while, how could he say anything about military affairs than Hong Chengchou? So Zhang Ruoqi couldn't help but glance at Liu Yan, but saw that Liu Yan was also pondering.

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