Beijing City, in the Imperial Study.

"No news yet?"

Emperor Chongzhen asked unhappily, and Wang Chengen on the side had a bitter face and said, "Emperor, there is no news from the military department." ”

"What happened to Hong Chengchou, the more than 100,000 soldiers and horses in his hands are the last elite of the imperial court, and there must be no mistakes!"

Wang Chengen said: "Emperor, the situation in Xinzhou is complicated, listening to what Chen Xinjia, the secretary of the Ministry of War, said the day before yesterday, Li Zicheng has mobilized all the thieves' troops, and hundreds of thousands of horses will surround Xinzhou, even if there is news, it will not be delivered for a while." ”

"Hundreds of thousands of thieves?"

Emperor Chongzhen's worries were even worse, and he had learned from the Ministry of War that Hong Chengchou's department had been out of food for a long time, so it would be a big defeat no matter how you look at it.

"Alas!"

Emperor Chongzhen sighed and said, "Is there any news from Liu Yan in the east?" ”

Wang Chengen shook his head and said, "There is no news for the time being. ”

"Liu Yan."

Emperor Chongzhen got up and walked outside the imperial study, only to see the stars hanging in the night sky, the cold wind of winter kept blowing, cold and biting, just like the mood of Emperor Chongzhen at this moment, cold, painful.

"Will the Ming be defeated at my hands?"

Emperor Chongzhen asked himself, since he ascended the throne, he has worked hard to govern the country, and he has to manage the government for seven or eight hours every day, and even all-nighters are common, but the world is becoming more and more chaotic, and the state affairs are becoming more and more corrupt.

"Emperor!"

Wang Chengen put a cloak on Emperor Chongzhen, and then said: "It's too cold and windy here, so the emperor should go in." ”

Emperor Chongzhen shook his head and said, "I want to see the stars again." When the royal brother was still alive

Wait, when I was still a king, I often followed the imperial brother to look at the stars, how good it was at that time, carefree, everything was handled by the imperial brother. ”

Wang Chengen only felt sour in his heart when he heard this, and he couldn't help but leave tears.

"Your Majesty!"

Suddenly, Chen Xinjia strode over in the distance, and the two inner guards around him followed with lanterns.

Chen Xinjia shouted loudly as he ran: "Your Majesty! Pinggu victory, great victory! ”

Emperor Chongzhen shook suddenly, and after being held by Wang Chengen, his eyes widened and he asked, "Speak!" ”

Chen Xinjia ran to him and was about to salute, but was stopped by Emperor Chongzhen: "Speak quickly!" ”

"Yes!"

Chen Xinjia took out the good news sent by Liu Yan and said: "Liu Yan led his troops to Pinggu County, Jingdong, and the soldiers of the new army were in Pinggu, in Huangsongyu, Mafang, and east of the county seat, and fought fiercely with more than 300,000 Qing troops, three battles and three victories, beheaded more than 12,000 levels, and beheaded the Han army with a white flag Gushan Ezhen Wu Shoujin and Tumote Right Banner Gushan Ezhen Omu Buchuhuer. Now that the Qing army has retreated to Jizhou County, Liu Yan's troops are ready to march eastward after a short rest. ”

"Ancestors and ancestors bless!"

Emperor Chongzhen roared, and then laughed wildly, this is the only good news he has known these days.

Wang Chengen also said excitedly: "Congratulations to the emperor, with Liu Duchen here, the Qing army is not worried!" ”

Chen Xinjia also said excitedly: "Your Majesty, there is no news from the old Hongge side at the moment, should you let Liu Duchen divide a part of the elite and go west to Xinzhou to rescue?" With the strength of the Shandong New Army, it will definitely not be a problem! ”

Emperor Chongzhen was also quite tempted and looked at Wang Cheng

Well, he couldn't make up his mind for a while, so he said, "Why don't you send someone to ask Liu Yan?" ”

"Your Majesty is thoughtful."

At this time, Chen Xinjia was also suffering from a long drought, and finally received a good news, and he was already overwhelmed with joy, and happily returned home to wait for the news.

And Wang Chengen was also ordered to ask Liu Yan if he could divide his troops to support Hong Chengchou's troops.

When Wang Chengen arrived at the New Army's personal guard camp, Liu Yan had already sent all the battalions to the east to investigate the traces of the Qing army's flags.

"Hehe, I've seen the prince!"

"Oops!"

Wang Chengen smiled and said: "The governors have worked hard to lead the army, and they have recently achieved great victories, and the miscellaneous family is really sincerely admired!" ”

Liu Yan smiled and ordered someone to serve tea, then asked Wang Chengen to sit down, and said, "Father-in-law is here, Reward the army?" ”

Wang Chengen smiled awkwardly and said, "Your Majesty has ordered the military department and the household department to raise money and food, and in a few days I will send someone to send money and food for the army, as well as the rewards of the soldiers, please wait a few more days." ”

"Haha!"

Liu Yan laughed out loud and stopped mentioning the matter.

Then Wang Chengen said: "Governor, at present, the old department of Hongge is besieged in Xinzhou by the army of thieves, and it has been cut off from the imperial court for a long time, so His Majesty is very worried, and there are many discussions in the court, recently, hehe, recently ......"

Liu Yan looked at Wang Chengen's appearance of wanting to speak and stopped, so he put away his smile and said, "Does my father-in-law want to say that someone in the court suggested that the governor should divide his troops to rescue Hong Ge Lao?" ”

"Hehe, the governor is wise, that's true."

Liu Yan Zhengse said: "The truth that the division of soldiers is weak, my father-in-law should know, in the past, the official army was defeated by the Qing army,

The thieves led the two sides by the nose, and how many elite soldiers and strong generals were dragged down by the two thieves in turn? At this time, it is the critical moment of the duel between our army and the Qing army, and at this time we must divide the soldiers of the governor, which is a proposal for the country, and those who propose this proposal should be killed! ”

Wang Chengen was shocked when he heard this.

On the same day, Wang Chengen declined Liu Yan's invitation to stay for dinner, hurriedly got into the carriage, and returned to Beijing under the escort of the Jinyi guards and the soldiers and horses of the Beijing camp.

Then Wang Chengen truthfully reported Liu Yan's reply to Emperor Chongzhen: "Emperor, that's what Liu Duchen said. ”

Emperor Chongzhen's face was very ugly, and he said, "Chen Xinjia is really stupid! ”

Wang Chengen said: "Emperor, Chen Shangshu should have no bad intentions, but in the face of the current situation, he doesn't know how to deal with it. ”

"Humph!"

Emperor Chongzhen said coldly: "Chen Xinjia is the secretary of the military department, if he doesn't know how to calm the war, then don't occupy the position of the military department in vain!" ”

Wang Chengen hurriedly persuaded: "Emperor, the current war in Xinzhou and Jingdong is a critical moment, and it is really not the right time to replace the secretary of the military department." ”

Emperor Chongzhen nodded slowly and said, "I know. In addition, is the money and food for Liu Yan ready? ”

"The old servant asked Chen Shangshu and Li Shangshu, and the military department and the household department only raised 20% of the amount reported by Liu Duchen, which is already the limit."

Emperor Chongzhen sighed and said, "Let's send it first, there is a little bit of calculation, Liu Yan should be able to understand the difficulties of the court and me." ”

Three days later, Liu Yan led the battalions of the New Army to continue to march eastward, and the front and rear battalions of the New Army, as well as the second and third battalions of the garrison, also rushed from the north and south

Come to converge, the 120,000 army approached Jizhou City in a mighty way, and set up camp forty miles west of Jizhou City.

Just when the battalions of the new army had just settled, the money and grain sent by the imperial court also arrived here, Xun Jingyun took his subordinates to inspect and put them in the warehouse, and then came to the big tent of the Chinese army with a frown.

"Governor, the court is too much, only sending such a little money and food is not enough for the consumption of the army!"

"How many?"

"It's only 20% of the amount we report to the imperial court, this is to send a meal!"

Liu Yan shook his head and said: "Forget it, anyway, the money and grain in the army are still very sufficient, and there will be a steady stream of money and grain from Shandong, and the money and grain in the court are better than nothing." ”

Xun Jingyun said: "Hmph, it's not that the court has no money or food, but it's not in the treasury, but in the hands of the princes, ministers, and merchants!" ”

Liu Yan smiled and waved his hand and said, "Okay, this situation will change, it just takes time, and we need to work hard to change it." ”

Xun Jingyun clasped his fists and saluted when he heard this, and said: "The governor is benevolent and righteous, and his subordinates admire!" ”

Then Xun Jingyun asked, "Governor, when will we recover Jizhou City?" ”

Liu Yan thought for a while and said: "The current situation is not good, and Hong Chengchou's side may not be able to hold out much, so we can't delay, and we must fight the Qing army quickly." In this way, the officers and men of each battalion rested for a day and attacked Jizhou early the day after tomorrow. ”

Xun Jingyun said: "The night of the battalions is not collected, and they are going to explore in the direction of Jizhou. ”

"Well, it's already arranged."

After Xun Jingyun left, Liu Yan looked at the map in the big tent of the Chinese army alone, and his finger clicked on the location of Xinzhou, Shanxi

Later, he nodded in the direction of Jizhou, and said secretly: "Although Hong Chengchou's troops are sufficient, they should have run out of food now, and their troops are definitely not the opponent of Li Zicheng's million-strong army, once Li Zicheng defeats Hong Chengchou, hundreds of thousands of thieves will definitely kill Beizhili!" ”

Thinking of this, Liu Yan was also a little anxious in his heart, and said secretly: "If you fail to repel the Qing army at that time, and are rushed to Beizhili by the Qing army and thieves at the same time, the joke will be big!" ”

So, Liu Yan immediately called Miao Shao and said, "Inform all battalions that the army will start early the day after tomorrow." ”

"Yes."

Miao Shao said: "Governor, 300,000 Qing troops are guarding Jizhou City, this battle is not easy to fight." ”

Liu Yan nodded and said: "The Qing army should not defend to the death, after all, they are all cavalry, and most of them will still be fighting in battle at that time." ”

"Yes."

Then Liu Yan suddenly remembered something, and said to Miao Shao: "Isn't it right? ”

"What's wrong with what the Doge says?"

Liu Yan immediately looked at Yutu, thought for a moment, and said: "Fan Wencheng came to negotiate peace before, if the slave chief really wants to negotiate peace, why don't you send someone to contact the court directly?" ”

Miao Shao was also stunned and said: "Yes, if Fan Wencheng arrives in the capital, His Majesty will definitely agree to negotiate peace, why did they go directly to the governor?" ”

Liu Yan frowned, thought for a while, and then slapped his palm on the table and said loudly: "No! The Qing army must stabilize the governor, and Huang Taiji has a conspiracy. ”

"Is the Qing army going to withdraw, stalling for time, or is it trying to attack elsewhere?"

"I don't know, but it's definitely not the withdrawal of troops to the north!"

Miao Shao said: "Governor, it's better for your subordinates to lead your troops to attack Jizhou City and test it."

What about the reality of the Qing army? ”

Liu Yan nodded and said; "The guard battalion is infantry, let's let the cavalry battalion go, and quickly find Xu Ming."

"Yes."