Tongzhou.

After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Tongzhou has four counties, Sanhe, Wuqing, Xianghe and Miaoxian, which belong to Beiping Prefecture. In the first month of the first year of Yongle, the imperial court took Beiping as Beijing and changed Beiping Mansion to Shuntianfu. Since then, Tongzhou and the four counties under its jurisdiction have all belonged to Shuntianfu.

Liu Yan led the guard battalion, cavalry battalion, and artillery battalion to be stationed in Tongzhou City, which was connected to the Grand Canal, and Shandong's money and grain could be transported to Tongzhou by water, saving a lot of money and grain consumption.

In the middle of the first month, Wu Guojin hurriedly came to the Zhizhou Yamen in the city and handed a piece of information collected by the Intelligence Department to Liu Yan.

"Governor, Li Zicheng led the army to capture Xinzhou City, Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui surrendered, and Liu Zhaoji, Tang Tong, Wang Tingchen, and Zuo Guangxian died in battle!"

"In addition, Wang Pu and Li Fuming also surrendered to Li Zicheng not long ago, and it is said that Hong Chengchou persuaded them."

Liu Yan's eyes widened violently and asked, "Is the intelligence reliable?" ”

Wu Guojin nodded and said: "Reliable, it is the news found by investigating the news that Wang Yang, the director of Cao, entered Shanxi with a sharp whistle." ”

Now, with the continuous expansion of Liu Yan's power, the Intelligence Department has also expanded its manpower on a large scale, and Detective Cao has also set up more than a dozen elite sentry teams, which are specially used to detect news and intelligence on the battlefield and in enemy territory.

Liu Yan frowned, and said secretly in his heart: Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui are really grass on the wall, even if they change history, the two did not take refuge in the Manchu Qing Dynasty as in history, but they also took refuge in Li Zicheng.

"Wang Pu and Li Fuming are okay to say, but Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui are both capable people, and Li Zicheng is assisted by the two of them, which is even more difficult to deal with."

Wu Guojin said: "Governor, according to the intelligence

, Li Zicheng is rectifying the army, with Hong Chengchou's help, the combat power of the thieves will improve very quickly, and we are running out of time. ”

Liu Yan nodded in agreement, and then said, "Send this news to the capital immediately." ”

Wu Guojin said in surprise: "Send it to the capital? Why? ”

Liu Yan said with a smile: "Wang Pu and Li Fuming surrendered to the thieves, the entire territory of Shanxi fell, and the northwest and Central Plains of the Ming Dynasty were all occupied by Li Zicheng. It won't be long before Your Majesty will find a way for us to send troops to encircle and suppress Li Zicheng, and then it will be an opportunity, an opportunity for the governor to rectify the court! ”

Wu Guojin's eyes suddenly lit up, and he was ordered to retreat.

Two days later, Emperor Chongzhen looked at the information sent by Liu Yan, and roared in disbelief: "Hong Chengchou must have died in battle, he must be dead, how could he surrender to the thief, impossible!" ”

Wang Chengen stood aside with a pale face, Hong Chengchou, Wu Sangui, Wang Pu, and Li Fuming surrendered, Tang Tong, Zuo Guangxian, Liu Zhaoji, and Wang Tingchen were killed in battle, and hundreds of thousands of nine-sided elites were all wiped out, and the Ming Dynasty was completely hopeless, either attacked and destroyed by Li Zicheng, or controlled by Liu Yan, and the imperial court no longer had a loyal mobile force to call!

At this time, Chen Xinjia's heart was also thinking so, full of sadness, listening to Emperor Chongzhen's roar in his ears, he didn't know how to answer, so he could only let Emperor Chongzhen roar in front.

After venting for a long time, Emperor Chongzhen finally sat down with a pant and said, "Why can't Hong Chengchou die in the country?" Why did he surrender? ”

Seeing that Emperor Chongzhen had calmed down, Chen Xinjia gave up his hand and said:

"Your Majesty, it's time to make peace with Liu Yan."

Emperor Chongzhen slammed the table and scolded angrily: "Ease? How else can I ease up! Liu Yan has been pressing, but it really can't work, so let him make this dragon chair! ”

"Your Majesty is angry!"

Chen Xinjia said bitterly: "Your Majesty, this information was sent by Liu Yan, which shows that Liu Yan wants to collude with the imperial court. Now all the passes in Beizhili are occupied by Liu Yan's soldiers and horses, if Liu Yan really has different intentions, now his soldiers and horses have already entered Beijing City, why would they stay in Tongzhou? ”

"Liu Yan is worried that the DPRK and China will be unstable and will repeat the mistakes of Hong Chengchou, so he made this decision and wanted to use the method of supporting troops to hold the court hostage to stabilize the rear of the army."

Emperor Chongzhen said coldly: "What is this not a minister? Are you still a loyal servant? ”

Chen Xinjia said with courage: "Your Majesty, the minister said a crime: In today's current situation, only powerful ministers can calm the world, and ordinary courtiers have no ability to turn the tide!" ”

"Turning the tide?"

Emperor Chongzhen sat down with a wry smile and said: "Give an edict, let Liu Yan lead the army to fight against Li Zicheng's rebellion, and the court will also raise money and grain by smashing pots and selling iron." In addition, Aiqing went to Tongzhou again to see what Liu Yan had to ask for. ”

Chen Xinjia suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, and Emperor Chongzhen finally compromised and immediately received the order.

At this time, the cabinet has basically fallen into a state of semi-paralysis, and the remaining ministers have no motivation, after all, the Ming Dynasty has been twilight, and everyone can see that even if they work hard, what future can they have?

Chen Xinjia came to the court room and waited for the edict to be prepared, and he was approved

Bei went directly to Tongzhou to meet Liu Yan.

But Chen Xinjia couldn't wait left or right, and he waited in the room for a full hour, but he waited for a little eunuch who was an internal official and eunuch.

"Hehe, Lord Chen is still waiting here? Why don't you go back first, and when the edict is ready, the miscellaneous family will send someone to inform you, how about it? ”

Chen Xinjia asked in surprise: "What, is there anything wrong with the edict?" ”

"The ministers are discussing the wording of the edict, and I also ask Lord Chen to calm down and go back and wait for news first."

Seeing this, Chen Xinjia paused and said: "The country is in such a crisis, and the ministers are still so procrastinating, Daming is in danger!" ”

Say it, Chen Xinjia brushed his sleeves and left.

At this time, there were several cabinet ministers in the cabinet room who were arguing about something, one of them was the new Hubu Shangshu and Wenyuan Pavilion University scholar Jiang Dejing, this person is good at managing money and managing the army, and in history he had committed Yan Jin's admonition, angered Emperor Chongzhen and was dismissed, which is a rare practical minister in the current court.

One person is Cheng Ji's life, and at this time, he served as the first assistant of the transition, and he lived a few years longer than in history. However, his son Cheng Kegong was an out-and-out traitor, who directly defected to the Manchu Qing Dynasty in history, and also served as a bachelor of the Manchu Qing Secretariat, which also became a pain point for many courtiers to attack Cheng Ji.

There is also Xiong Mingyu, who is the secretary of the Ministry of Industry at this time, and he has the worst temper among the three.

The three of them were all members of the Donglin Party, and after receiving the edict from Emperor Chongzhen, they gathered together to discuss how to draw up the edict.

Xiong Mingyu said loudly: "Your Majesty has been humiliated, and the courtiers should have died to apologize!" Liu Yan's army oppressed the king, but you still have to draft this edict, have you all forgotten the righteousness of Donglin? ”

Jiang Dejing said: "In today's situation, only Liu Yanbu can defeat Li Zicheng, and Your Majesty can't do it. ”

Cheng Jiming said: "Yes, Liu Yan must be allowed to lead the army to attack as soon as possible, and Li Zicheng's strength cannot be further strengthened, so this edict should be issued." ”

"No!"

Xiong Mingyu said righteously: "Our cabinet has the power to reject His Majesty's edict, this edict cannot be issued, we must let Liu Yan return to Beijing to apologize, and after the three law divisions discuss the punishment for the crime, then order him to make meritorious service and lead the army to fight Li Zicheng, this is the bottom line, not negotiable!" ”

Cheng Jiming said with a wry smile: "Let's not talk about whether Liu Yan can be allowed to return to Beijing to apologize, how much time does it take to go through this process alone?" It is estimated that Li Zicheng led the army to the city of Beijing! ”

"No is no way!"

Xiong Mingyu said: "I will go to Your Majesty to say about this matter, and you must let Your Majesty take back your life!" ”

Cheng Ji saw Xiong Mingyu get up and leave, hurriedly grabbed him, and said, "Don't be impulsive, Your Majesty's edict is also an opportunity for the imperial court and Liu Yan to have some contact." Otherwise, at present, Liu Yan occupies all the key points in Beizhili, but he always refuses to contact the imperial court, how dangerous this situation is, you all know, you can't go on like this! ”

Xiong Mingyu said loudly: "I think you are just frightened by Liu Yan's military might, if Lu Xiangsheng is still alive, he will definitely lead the army to arrest Liu Yan back." Now that Liu Yan is so perverse, I don't know how Lu Xiangsheng will feel when he is under Jiuquan! ”

Lu Xiangsheng, Chen Xinjia, and Sun Chengzong are actually all members of the Donglin Party, but the three of them are at the forefront of turning the tide, Lu Xiang

Sheng and Sun Chengzong both fought on the battlefield for the Ming Dynasty, and Chen Xinjia also ran to save the current situation.

Jiang Dejing and Cheng Jiming glanced at each other, and when they saw that they couldn't persuade Xiong Mingyu, they had no choice but to let it go.

In the imperial study, after Xiong Mingyu reported it, Emperor Chongzhen's face was ugly, and Wang Chengen on the side was also surprised, I don't know what these civil officials are thinking, Your Majesty can just follow the will directly, where are there so many things?

"Your Majesty?"

Xiong Ming met Emperor Chongzhen and never said a word, so he screamed tentatively, but he was hit on the head by something, and he looked at it and saw that it was a few pieces.

"Could it be that my will can't even get out of the Forbidden City?"

Emperor Chongzhen said angrily: "I asked the cabinet to draw up an order, why don't you do it?" Why not! ”

Xiong Mingyu said loudly: "The minister is loyal, please ...... Your Majesty."

Emperor Chongzhen shouted directly: "Go and draft the decree immediately, and hand it over to Chen Xinjia today to send it out, and if you delay it any longer, you will get me out of the cabinet!" ”

Xiong Mingyu was dumbfounded, and then returned to the cabinet room in despair, Jiang Dejing and Cheng Jiming saw this, naturally they both knew the result, and neither of them spoke, but handed Xiong Mingyu the edict drafted by the two after Xiong Mingyu left just now.

Xiong Mingyu was not in the mood to read the content, so he just glanced at it hastily, nodded, and sat aside alone and sighed.

"This?"

Jiang Dejing looked at Cheng Jiming and said, "Then the edict, this will be issued?" ”

“

Send it out! ”

Cheng Jiming said: "Send someone to Chen Xinjia's hands immediately, and the rest of the matter has nothing to do with us." ”

"Okay."

It wasn't until dusk that Chen Xinjia got the edict, and then prepared to leave the city and rush towards Tongzhou in the cold wind.