On 12 April, Li Dingguo, who had been promoted by the imperial court to act as the governor of Huguang, arrived at Longmen Pass, at which time Han Qin, the chief officer of the 11th Army of the National Defense Army, Wei Han, the chief officer of the 12th Army, Shang Zili, the chief officer of the 13th Army, and Tian Zhenbei, the chief officer of the 14th Army, all led the generals of various departments and waited outside Longmen Pass.

I saw that Li Dingguo only brought a dozen entourage, rode his horse to the gate, and when he saw everyone, he laughed and dismounted to greet him.

At first, everyone thought that the imperial court suddenly promoted Li Dingguo, who was demoted to the governor of Huguang and let him command the officers and soldiers of the Western Route Army, and several chief military officers were a little dissatisfied in their hearts, but today they saw that Li Dingguo was so approachable and did not have the frame of an official in front of everyone, and everyone had a little more good impression of Li Dingguo in their hearts.

"Haha, there are generals waiting here!"

Wei Han, Han Qin, Shang Zili, and Tian Zhenbei all exchanged a few words of greeting, and then hugged their fists and said: "Li Futai has worked hard all the way, please go into the city to rest." ”

Li Dingguo did not enter the city immediately, but looked at the Longmen Pass in front of him, and said to everyone: "This Longmen Pass is a blessed land, the elder of the Pavilion fought the Manchu Tartars here, and left all the Manchu magnates such as the slave chieftain Taiji in the pass, and severely damaged the Tartar army, which laid the foundation for the current situation in Liaodong." ”

"This time, our Western Route Army assembled at Longmen Pass, it is to borrow the blessing of the original victory, our Western Route Army will definitely be able to win many battles in this battle, and the generals can also make meritorious deeds!"

When several people saw Li Dingguo say this, their hearts were also eager to try, so they hugged Li Dingguo into the city.

In the city, Wei Han and Han Qin have prepared an office for Li Dingguo, and now Li Dingguo is the chief general of the West Route Army appointed by the Ministry of National Defense, and he is the official position of acting governor of Huguang and serving as the governor of the West Route Army.

At this time in the lobby, Han Qin, the chief officer of the 11th Army of the National Defense Army, Wei Han, the chief officer of the 12th Army, Shang Zili, the chief officer of the 13th Army, and Tian Zhenbei, the chief officer of the 14th Army, led the deputy commanders, generals, and guerrilla generals of the various armies gathered together. ”

Everyone said: "I am willing to fight Liaodong with the overseer!" ”

Li Dingguo nodded with satisfaction, then the smile on his face was closed, and he said: "But the governor wants to say the ugly things in the front, if anyone does not listen to the orders in the big war, or discounts the orders of the governor, then the governor will not show mercy." You are all old people who started with the elder of the pavilion, although the governor is a monk halfway, but he is also a follower of the elder of the pavilion, and he is a loyal minister of the Ming court, I hope that the governor and you can work together with one heart and one mind, and live up to the grand occasion of such a war! ”

Everyone looked at each other, for Li Dingguo, everyone's original impression was that he was a thief's general, but now Li Dingguo is a "top student" of the Huangming Military Academy after all, and in the post of chief military officer of Huguang, he also made good military achievements and made contributions to the imperial court. This time, Li Dingguo was promoted by Liu Yan, and it can be said that he was appointed in the line of fire, and everyone naturally took a look at Li Dingguo.

At this time, when everyone heard Li Dingguo say this, they also stood up one after another.

Seeing this, Li Dingguo sighed in his heart: "The reason why the elder can develop and grow all the way is not unreasonable, just the orders of the various ministries of the National Defense Force prohibit it, as long as there is an order, anyone can lead the battle, so the system is already the same as the Qin Dynasty: soldiers and horses are the army of the dynasty, and it is not a private soldier, it can fight, and the battle can win, this is the king's division!" ”

Immediately, Li Dingguo issued several military orders in public, and then said to everyone: "It is already April, the spring is blooming, the climate is not yet hot, and it is a good season for the army to go out." According to the deadline given by the Ministry of National Defense, our Western Route Army will set off from Longmen Pass in seven days, directly into the grassland, all the way to Shenyang, and sweep away the Mongolian tribes along the way! ”

In the end, Li Dingguo gritted his teeth and said: "All the Mongolian tribes along the way will not leave chickens and dogs, and the goal of my Western Route Army is to weaken the population and combat potential of the Manchu and Mongolian Tatars as much as possible, do you understand?" ”

When the generals heard this, their blood boiled, and they all got up and clasped their fists, and said loudly: "The last general is ordered!" ”

Beijing.

This morning, Liu Yan and Zheng Zhilong were walking in the palace in court clothes and were walking towards the imperial study.

By the side of the two, Wang Chengen took two little eunuchs to lead the way, looking at Liu Yan and Zheng Zhilong, Wang Chengen secretly said in his heart: "The dynasty is finally going to send troops, this is what the people are looking forward to, the whole dynasty, the military and civilian officials and businessmen have been looking forward to it for several months, and it is finally coming to this day!" ”

Just when Wang Chengen was secretly thinking in his heart, several people had already come to the outside of the imperial study, Wang Chengen made a report, and Liu Yan and Zheng Zhilong walked into the imperial study.

At this time, Emperor Chongzhen had already received a report from the cabinet and changed into a crown dress, which shows that Emperor Chongzhen attaches great importance to today's talks.

If Liu Yan can lead the army to destroy the Manchu Qing Dynasty and recover the thousands of miles of rivers and mountains in Liaodong, then for Emperor Chongzhen, Yu Private can wash away the shame of the Manchu Qing Dynasty entering the customs several times, and Yu Gong can create his prestige as the lord of the Ming Dynasty, so Emperor Chongzhen has no matter whether the authority of the court is controlled by Liu Yan at this time, regardless of whether he is the emperor or not, he has raised his hands to approve of Liu Yan's decision to send troops to Liaodong, and strongly supports it.

"Minister Liu Yan (Zheng Zhilong) greets Your Majesty!"

Emperor Chongzhen suppressed the excitement in his heart, and said in as calm a tone as possible: "Two Aiqing, please get up, give me a seat!" ”

At this time, there were only Liu Yan, Zheng Zhilong, Emperor Chongzhen, and Wang Chengen in the imperial study, and the Manchu Dynasty civil and military were gathering outside the Desheng Gate, waiting to see off Liu Yan and Zheng Zhilong, so they did not gather in the palace.

Emperor Chongzhen immediately inquired about the assembly of the three-way army, and Liu Yan answered them one by one.

Hearing that more than 800,000 soldiers from the three routes have been assembled, and the newly formed Daming Beiyang Fleet has all arrived at the port of Tianjin Wei, and the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Equipment have also hoarded enough money, food, and armaments in Shanhaiguan, Tianjin Wei, and Longmenwei, Emperor Chongzhen was overjoyed in his heart, and said: "Liu Ge Lao and the ministers of the DPRK and China have worked hard in this battle. ”

Liu Yan and Zheng Zhilong both thanked him again, and then Emperor Chongzhen asked about the date of the army's official attack.

Liu Yan said: "Your Majesty, according to the unified plan formulated by the Ministry of National Defense, the three-way army will set off at the same time on April 20, and the three-way army will attack at the same time to destroy the Manchu Qing and recover Liaodong at any cost!" ”

"April 20th??"

Emperor Chongzhen said: "There are only a few days left, I hope the soldiers can be victorious!" ”

Later, Emperor Chongzhen asked some detailed questions, and Liu Yan also answered them one by one, and as for some questions about the sea route army, Zheng Zhilong answered them.

After Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he was very confident in his heart.

"Good! It was not too early, and the two Aiqing went out of the palace to Deshengmen, and the Chinese military minister of the dynasty replaced Shu and saw off the two Aiqing. ”

At this time, Liu Yan said: "Your Majesty, the minister still has something to do." ”

"Huh?"

At this time, Emperor Chongzhen was in a good mood, and asked with a smile: "What is the important matter of Elder Liu Ge, but it doesn't hurt to say it." ”

"Your Majesty, now Your Majesty has made the crown prince, the prince is sixteen years old, but he lacks prestige. The minister invited the prince of this war to serve as the supervisor of the army, and went to Shanhaiguan together to fight Liaodong with the minister. ”

"What!"

As soon as these words came out, Emperor Chongzhen stood up abruptly and looked at Liu Yan in disbelief, even Zheng Zhilong and Wang Chengen were shocked, looking at Liu Yan, not knowing what Liu Yan meant.

Liu Yan looked up at Emperor Chongzhen and said: "Your Majesty Mingjian, now that my Ming Dynasty has recovered, after the army recovers Liaodong, the imperial court soldiers and horses will also recover Wusizang and the Western Regions." In other words, in the next few years, or even more than ten years, or decades, what I need in my Ming Dynasty is a martial prince. ”

"So in this war, the prince must go out with the army, let the prince face the war, know the cruelty of the war, know the hard-won territory of my Ming Dynasty, know the courage and loyalty of the Ming soldiers, know that my Ming Dynasty has always been tough on the outside world, and truly understand the meaning of the Son of Heaven guarding the country!"

"No way!!"

Although Emperor Chongzhen could hear some truth from what Liu Yan said, the crown prince Zhu Cihong was the hope of Emperor Chongzhen and the prince of the Ming Dynasty, how could he go to the battlefield in Liaodong with the army?

is the so-called fierce war danger, in case the prince Zhu Cihong has three long and two short, then who will the Ming Dynasty hand over in the future? ?

In an instant, a chilling thought popped up in Emperor Chongzhen's heart: "Liu Yan shouldn't want to take the opportunity of the big war to get rid of my crown prince, right?" ”

However, this idea was quickly vetoed by Emperor Chongzhen, if Liu Yan really wanted to get rid of the prince and himself, there was no need to be so troublesome, Liu Yan had too many ways to do so.

At this time, Emperor Chongzhen just didn't agree, but Liu Yan insisted on taking the prince Zhu Cihong out of the battle, and Wang Chengen on the side hurriedly stood up to play a round and said: "Hehe, Ge Lao Mingjian, although our army has a big victory in this battle, but the soldiers are fierce and dangerous, the prince is a daughter, in case there is a mistake, even the Ge Lao can't afford this responsibility." ”

Zheng Zhilong, who was on the side, also wanted to persuade him, but when he saw Liu Yan, he said directly: "This time, the imperial court sent more than 800,000 elites, can't my 800,000 elites of the Ming Dynasty protect the safety of His Royal Highness the Prince!" ”

In the face of Liu Yan's words, Emperor Chongzhen, Wang Chengen, and Zheng Zhilong were powerless to refute, and Liu Yan then said: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince goes out with the army, which can not only improve the morale of the army, but also let the people of the Han family in Liaodong see the determination of the dynasty, let them know that the court has not given up on them, His Majesty has not given up on them, and let the people of the Han family in Liaodong know that the night is about to pass, and the glory of the Ming Dynasty will once again shine on the thousands of miles of rivers and mountains in Liaodong!" ”

When Liu Yan and Zheng Zhilong walked out of the imperial study, Liu Yan already had an edict in his hand, which was the edict appointing the crown prince Zhu Cihong as the supervisor of the East Route Army and accompanying the army to Liaodong.

"With the prince accompanying him this time, the burden on the elder is much heavier."

Liu Yan laughed out loud and said, "With the prince here, this battle will only be smoother." ”

In fact, letting the crown prince Zhu Cihong go out with the army is also a foreshadowing set by Liu Yan for the future.

Although Emperor Chongzhen now has a lot less prejudice against himself, his ideas have been deeply rooted, Liu Yan needs to cultivate a prince who advocates a new policy and forges ahead, and the Ming Dynasty also needs a "new emperor".

Later, Liu Yan and Zheng Zhilong came to Deshengmen, Chen Xinjia, Yue Ming, Zhao Min, Wang Weizhen and other ministers of the imperial court led the ministers of the court, as well as Yan Jizu, the governor of Shandong, who had already led the army to Beijing to garrison, were already waiting here.

Liu Yan and Zheng Zhilong greeted everyone for a while, and then led thousands of elites to set off from Desheng Gate in the congratulations of everyone "winning the flag" and "returning triumphantly".