At the end of June, the city of Beijing.

In order to fill the newly built National Defense Army as soon as possible, Liu Yan ordered the establishment of conscription points in Beizhili and Shandong provinces, screening good families to join the army, giving priority to selecting honest young people in the countryside, and taking into account the laborers and other laborers in the cities.

At this time, the soldiers of the various armies of the National Defense Forces were being transferred to various places in a steady stream, and the recruitment points in various places were also overcrowded.

On the day of the 30th, after Liu Yan invited Emperor Chongzhen, he handed over Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui to the three law divisions for trial, mainly in Shangshu Wenyuan of the Criminal Department, supplemented by Dali Temple and the Inspectorate, and immediately arraigned.

In the lobby of the Criminal Department, Shang Wenyuan sat in the lobby with Shen Duyi, the Qing of Dali Temple, and Shi Mingchong, the left capital of the Inspectorate, with Shang Wenyuan in the center, and Shen Duyi and Shi Mingchong living separately.

Shen Duyi, the secretary of Dali Temple, was a famous "infatuated lover" in the court, and he wandered in the fireworks alley willows in the capital all the year round, but now after Liu Yan presided over the government, he strictly restrained the hundreds of officials in the court, and the rule of officials in the government and the opposition has been greatly improved, so Shen Duyi has also converged a lot, but the dissatisfaction with Liu Yan in his heart has also accumulated a lot, but he doesn't dare to show it.

And Shi Mingchong is a famous "bastard" in the court, as the Zuodu Yushi of the Inspectorate, he has no merits of impeachment and supervision at all, and he looks like a good person when he sees anyone, and it is precisely because of this that Shi Mingchong's popularity in the court is very good, and he sits very firmly in the position of the Zuodu Yushi.

This fashion Wenyuan naturally knows who these two people are beside him, so Shang Wenyuan does not expect today's three-hall trial

The two of them can help, as long as they don't get themselves in trouble.

Then Shang Wenyuan slapped the shocked wood and said loudly: "Bring someone to commit a crime!" ”

"Take someone to commit it!"

A moment later, Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui shackled their hands and feet and walked in with great difficulty.

"Who's in the hall?"

"Hong Chengchou."

"Wu Sangui."

Shang Wenyuan looked the two of them up and down, and saw that Hong Chengchou had long lost his previous ruddy face and graceful bearing, and the whole person was so thin that his face was very haggard, which was almost unrecognizable.

And Wu Sangui is no longer the original "Beijing Bai Yulang", at this time his face is full of stubble and haggard, like a farmer in the countryside.

"The two of you led the elite of the nine sides of the imperial court to garrison Xinzhou, and because the imperial court was cut off, the army was defeated, so you surrendered to the thief Li Zicheng, is it true?"

Hong Chengchou nodded and did not speak.

Wu Sangui paused and said: "The army of thieves and millions of thieves has besieged Xinzhou for a long time, and the imperial court has no reinforcements from a single soldier, and there is not a trace of money and food. ”

Shang Wenyuan slapped the table directly and shouted: "You just have to answer yes or no, if you don't ask, don't talk nonsense!" ”

Wu Sangui's face was angry, and then he nodded, and also did not speak.

Shang Wenyuan said coldly: "You are all people who lead the army to fight, the imperial court handed over the nine-sided army to you, you must know that there will be a danger of cutting off the backup, after all, the soldiers are in danger, you are the first day to lead the troops!" ”

"Where are the generals Cao Bianjiao, Yang Guozhu, Tang Tong, Wang Tingchen, Zuo Guangxian, Liu Zhaoji and others? When they were defeated, they all fought and died! So it doesn't matter

What merits and demerits did they have in their lifetimes, at least in the great feasts, they did not owe anything! ”

"And the two of you, in order to survive, directly surrendered to the thief Li Zicheng, and also held important positions in the army of thieves, this is aiding and abetting! For the sake of selfish interests, and poisoning the world with Li Zicheng, do you admit such a big crime! ”

Hong Chengchou's face was flushed at this time, and he said loudly: "I once led the army to repel the slaves and thieves in Liaodong, and made great achievements for the Ming Dynasty, how can I erase my name because of the defeat in the first battle!" ”

Wu Sangui also shouted loudly: "My Wu family has been guarding Liaodong for a long time for the Ming Dynasty, but I was forced to surrender because of the defeat of Xinzhou, and the imperial court will be wiped out?" ”

At this time, seeing Shang Wenyuan arguing with Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui, Shen Duyi, the secretary of Dali Temple, and Shi Mingchong, the left capital of the Inspectorate, invariably remained silent, and just quietly watched Shang Wenyuan launch a counterattack.

"The battle of Liaodong? Without Liu Ge Lao leading the army to lay the foundation for your department, can you win the battle of Liaodong with you, Hong Chengchou! ”

"Defend Liaodong? Your Wu family is indeed leading troops in Liaodong, but the territory of Liaodong is shrinking year by year, and now the territory outside Shanhaiguan has been lost, how did your Wu family defend the territory! ”

Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui were speechless.

Shang Wenyuan continued to scold: "The battle of Xinzhou is indeed the enemy's strength and my weakness, and the army of the Nine Sides has fallen into a desperate situation, which is indeed a crime of non-war, but you surrendered directly!" Even if the two of you are captured, the court will never convene the three law divisions to try the two of you. ”

"None of you are three-year-olds, you choose your own path, and everyone has to pay for your choice, including the two of you

Person! ”

Hearing this, Hong Chengchou said with a wry smile: "I think I, Hong Chengchou, am full of talent and learning, but I have fallen into such a field." I want to meet Liu Ge Lao! ”

Wu Sangui also hurriedly said: "I also want to see Liu Ge Lao!" ”

Shang Wenyuan said: "I'm afraid you won't see Elder Liu Ge, Elder Liu Ge has already set off to inspect Shandong and prepare for the establishment of a new style of water division in the Ming Dynasty." Before leaving, Liu Ge Lao had instructed the Three Law Divisions: Your case must be tried quickly, judged quickly, and handled quickly, without delay! ”

Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui were completely dead when they heard this, Liu Yan made it clear that he wanted to kill himself, didn't Liu Yan remember the feelings of his comrades in Liaodong at the beginning?

What Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui didn't know was that Liu Yan hated the two of them in his heart.

Historically, after Hong Chengchou surrendered to the Manchu Qing Dynasty, he followed Dolgon to lead his army south to attack Ming. After the Qing army entered the customs, the slave chief Shunzhi was also very important to Hong Chengchou, and appointed him as the crown prince Taibao, the secretary of the military department and the right capital of the Inspectorate of the Imperial History, and entered the inner court to administer military affairs and awarded the secretary of the academy.

Later, Dolgon was worried about entering the south of the pass, and it was also Hong Chengchou's sentence: "Jiangnan is weak, but it can be passed on", and strongly persuaded the Manchu Qing to go south to Jiangnan and fully occupy the land of Shenzhou.

It can be said that after Hong Chengchou surrendered to the Manchu Qing Dynasty in history, he was a very qualified and good minion.

Needless to say, Wu Sangui dedicated the mountain customs and led the Qing army into the customs, single-handedly causing the national disaster of Jiashen, and was the culprit of the fall of Shenzhou for more than 200 years and the bloody blood.

According to Liu Yan's temper, he can't wait to directly pull the two out and put them to death, and now he has convened the three law divisions for trial.

It's already a lot of restraint.

This fashion Wenyuan looked at Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui, who were lost and depressed, and no longer paid attention to the two, but said to Shen Duyi, the secretary of Dali Temple, and Shi Mingchong, the left capital of the Inspectorate: "Two adults, what do you think? ”

Shen Duyi smiled slightly, he really had a lot of grace, no wonder he was able to walk among the "flowers" all the year round, and said: "The case is clear, and the adults are in charge." ”

Shi Mingchong looked at Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui with a look of regret, and then said to Shang Wenyuan: "This case has been tried, I think it can be closed." ”

"That's good!"

Shang Wenyuan immediately said loudly to Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui: "For the crime of treason committed by the two of you, according to the law of the Ming Dynasty, you should be punished by Ling Chi!" But this official thinks that after all, you have fought for the Ming Dynasty, so the sentence of the two of you is to be decided! ”

Hearing the verdict, Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui's faces were like ashes, and they shouted loudly, Shang Wenyuan directly waved his hand: "Take it down, and after Your Majesty Zhu approves it, it will be executed immediately!" ”

Then Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui were taken down by several officials of the Criminal Department, and the two of them kept shouting loudly along the way, very unwilling in their hearts, but to no avail.

Shang Wenyuan immediately looked to the side, only to see that the clerk next to him had already recorded the interrogation just now, and the clerk handed over the recorded case file.

Shang Wenyuan beckoned Shen Duyi, the secretary of Dali Temple, and Shi Mingchong, the left capital of the Inspectorate, to check the case file together, and after confirming that it was correct, the three of them signed and sealed the case file one after another.

"Good!"

Shang Wenyuan said: "Let's ask Your Majesty for advice together, and then send a fast horse to report to the Pavilion Elder." ”

while

On the day, Shang Wenyuan, Shen Duyi, Dali Temple, and Shi Mingchong, the left capital of the Inspectorate, immediately entered the palace and submitted the case files of the three divisions to Emperor Chongzhen.

After reading the case file, Emperor Chongzhen was silent, Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui, who had given hope to him, became thieves, and also served as a military advisor and chief general in the thief army, intending to destroy the Ming Dynasty, which was simply intolerable for Emperor Chongzhen, even if he was a former favorite minister!

"Kill it!"

Emperor Chongzhen said in his mouth, and the imperial pen in his hand was directly outlined on the case file, and then the case file was slammed on the table.

Shang Wenyuan and the three didn't dare to say anything when they saw this, so they went directly to the cabinet office with the case file, and the cabinet ministers discussed and drafted the will, and implemented it with seals.

The next day, Hong Chengchou, Wu Sangui, and thousands of thieves were escorted outside the noon gate to be executed by the officers and men of the Sixth Army of the National Defense Army (formerly the New Army's personal guard battalion), which was being reorganized.

When the people in Beijing heard the news, they rushed to the scene one after another, and at least thousands of people surrounded the execution ground, witnessing with their own eyes the scene of Hong Chengchou, Wu Sangui and other thousands of thieves being beheaded.

North Zhili Hejian Mansion, Renqiu County.

Liu Yan, escorted by a general force of the Sixth Army of the National Defense Army led by Miao Shao, marched through Renqiu County in the direction of Shandong.

"Elder Ge, the capital is urgent!"

Liu Yan rode slowly, but Miao Shao handed over the urgent report, and after reading it, he sighed and said, "Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui have subdued the law!" ”

Miao Shao snorted coldly and said: "These two thieves openly surrendered to the enemy, and it is not a pity to die!" ”

Liu Yan nodded and said, "Li Chuang's matter is over."

Now that the economy has come to an end, the next step is how to clean up the old mountains and rivers and how to effectively implement the new policy and military reform. We still have a long way to go, and we still have to work hard! ”

Miao Shao asked, "Why did Elder Ge suddenly go to Lingshanwei's shipyard?" The subordinates remember that the shipyard has already been built, and now they want to place an order to build a ship? ”

Liu Yan nodded and said: "This prince wants to build a new type of sailor, from training to warships, it will be different from the previous Daming sailors!" ”

Miao Shao asked, "Water maker?" Who are you going to fight? ”

Liu Yan said: "If you want to implement the new policy and military reform in Jiangnan, you have to clash with the forces in the south. Although we have the righteousness of the imperial court in hand, Zheng Zhilong and other military leaders in the south will not obediently hand over the military power in their hands and let the imperial court reorganize, so the imperial court must have a capable sailor! ”