My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Chapter 323 Li Zicheng: We can't stay in Henan anymore, let's go to Sichuan!

Luo Rucai nodded solemnly:
"That's about it. If these 100,000 people continue to stay in Li Zicheng's camp, they will only become a burden to Li Zicheng."

"At that time, Li Zicheng will not only have to spend a lot of manpower and resources to treat them, but also feed them. This will be a huge burden for Li Zicheng."

"Therefore, I conclude that Li Zicheng will definitely send all 100,000 men to Tongguan. In this way, he can reduce his burden and also drag the court down."

Luo Rucai's analysis was clear, logical, and well-organized, leaving Sun Chuanting no choice but to accept it.

But soon, a deep sense of powerlessness welled up in Sun Chuanting's heart, because he didn't know how to deal with this matter.

To be honest, Tongguan has been struggling to accept the peasant soldiers who have come to join them every day recently.

Furthermore, with Luo Rucai surrendering with over 8,000 men last night, Tongguan Pass can no longer accommodate any more peasant armies.

Of course, the main reason is the food shortage.

Although Sun Chuanting had stored enough grain in Tongguan City, it was becoming insufficient as more and more people surrendered.

Moreover, with heavy snow blocking the mountains and making roads difficult to travel, the transportation of grain has been greatly affected.

Based on the current situation, the heavy snow may continue until February or March of next year.

In other words, the grain he stored in Tongguan will last for at least another four months.

In this situation, if another 100,000 people were to arrive, Tongguan would truly not have enough food to eat.

Thinking of this, Sun Chuanting's brows furrowed tightly, his eyes filled with worry and contemplation.

After a moment, he turned his gaze to Luo Rucai and said:

"What solutions do you have for this matter?"

Luo Rucai didn't mince words and said directly:
"Your Excellency, the solution is simple: we must not accept the surrender of these 100,000 people under any circumstances!"

"Of course, Li Zicheng must have thought of this as well, so I estimate that he will definitely send these wounded soldiers directly to the city of Tongguan and force you to accept them."

"At this time, Your Excellency must be ruthless and send a large army to drive them back to Li Zicheng's camp. Only in this way can the matter be resolved completely."

"If the lord is too soft-hearted and accepts these people, then there will definitely not be enough food in Tongguan, and then Tongguan will not be able to be defended."

It must be said that although Luo Rucai's method was ruthless, it was indeed based on the perspective of the Ming army.

Sun Chuanting naturally knew that Luo Rucai was right, and that it was the safest approach at present.

But as long as it's not wrong, it's simply unacceptable to leave these 100,000 people unattended.

After all, Emperor Chongzhen had previously issued an imperial edict that any peasant army that came to surrender must be accepted.

This imperial edict was like a tight band, restricting his actions.

Moreover, Li Zicheng might use this incident to force him to accept the 100,000 men, which would put him in a dilemma.

Ugh!
Thinking of this, Sun Chuanting couldn't help but sigh, his sigh filled with helplessness and entanglement.

Then he slowly said:
"I know that what you are saying is actually the best way. If there hadn't been that imperial edict before, doing this would have been fine, since the peasant army and the imperial court were always mortal enemies."

"But now that His Majesty's decree is before me, how can I refuse such a request?"

"If I refuse, it would be disobeying the imperial decree, and I might lose my head in the future."

"Besides, those are 100,000 civilians. Are we really going to let them die outside Tongguan?"

His eyes revealed a hint of reluctance and struggle, as if he were painfully torn between conscience and responsibility.

Upon hearing this, Luo Rucai was at a loss for words.

Because he also knew what disobeying an imperial edict meant for an official.

After a moment, Sun Chuanting rubbed his temples, trying to relieve his fatigue and stress, and then said:

"Alright, you've been busy all night, go and rest first. We'll talk about this later. When the time comes, we'll deal with it as it comes. There's always a solution."

Having not rested for a day and a night, Sun Chuanting was utterly exhausted and unable to concentrate on anything.

Luo Rucai couldn't insist any further, so he could only cup his hands and say:
"In that case, I shall take my leave."

Luo Rucai then withdrew.

After Luo Rucai left, Sun Chuanting couldn't sleep.

He was originally so sleepy that his eyelids were drooping, but after what just happened, he was unusually energetic.

He lay in bed, tossing and turning, his mind filled with images of Li Zicheng's cunning smile and the figures of his 100,000 wounded soldiers.

He really didn't expect that Li Zicheng, that bastard, would throw such a difficult problem at him again.

To be honest, this really stumped him.

However, Sun Chuanting had his bottom line: he had to ensure that the soldiers in Tongguan City had sufficient food and pay.

Only by ensuring their food and supplies are sufficient can they have enough strength and morale to fight, and only then can Tongguan City be prevented from being breached by the rebels.

As for other things, they can only come later!

And so, Sun Chuanting drifted off to sleep in a daze.

However, his dreams were not peaceful either. One moment Li Zicheng was leading his army to attack Tongguan City, and the next moment the 100,000 wounded soldiers were wailing outside the city.

Even in his sleep, Sun Chuanting's brows were always furrowed, as if he was troubled by these things even in his dreams.

Meanwhile, the scene shifts to Li Zicheng.

"King Chuang, Sun Chuanting has not agreed to our deal! Besides, that scoundrel Luo Rucai has actually become a fourth-rank military officer in the imperial court!"

Li Guo walked into the tent with an indignant expression. After meeting Li Zicheng, he told him the truth about what had happened.

His eyes were filled with anger and resentment, as if he had been greatly insulted.

Of course, he deliberately concealed the fact that his three personal guards had betrayed him, since it was too shameful for Li Guo.

You should know that he brought his personal guards with him this time. He usually takes great care of them and treats them like brothers.

Who would have thought that even his personal guards would betray him? How could he lead troops in the future?

Li Zicheng was not surprised after hearing these words. He just said with a gloomy face: "Forget it, this is within my expectations. And whether he agrees to the deal or not, these 100,000 people are going to be sent to him. Let's start preparing."

As Li Zicheng spoke, he glanced at Liu Zongmin standing to the side.

Liu Zongmin still wanted to try again, so he said:

"King Chuang, some of these 100,000 men are former soldiers of our old camp. May I ask if these soldiers can be kept?"

His eyes revealed a hint of reluctance and worry. After all, these veteran soldiers were his brothers who had gone through thick and thin with him, and he really couldn't bear to send them away.

Li Zicheng, with a stern face and a resolute look in his eyes, said:
"No! These people are already wounded. Even if they are healed, they may not be able to go to the battlefield. Besides, we don't have many medicines and we can't waste them. Let's not talk about this anymore and go prepare."

His tone left no room for argument, as if he had already made the final decision.

Liu Zongmin didn't know what to say after hearing this.

He sighed helplessly, bowed, and withdrew.

The other generals in the tent also went down to attend to their own tasks, after all, they had just experienced chaos the night before and had too much to do.

Before long, only Li Zicheng and Li Guo remained in the tent.

Li Zicheng glanced at Li Guo, then sighed, his sigh filled with helplessness and exhaustion.

"What, do you also think that Uncle is too heartless?"

Upon hearing this, Li Guo sighed inwardly, but still said:
"I will fully support whatever decision my uncle makes and will not have the slightest doubt."

Upon hearing this, Li Zicheng shook his head and continued:
"It's just the two of us, uncle and nephew, here. Say whatever you want, no need for such formalities."

"After all, you are the person your uncle is closest to!"

Seeing Li Zicheng's genuine emotions, Li Guo finally mustered up his courage and said:
“Uncle, I do think you were wrong this time. It would be one thing to drive away the other wounded peasant soldiers, but why did you have to drive away those wounded veteran soldiers as well?”

“These are our elite troops. They once risked their lives alongside us. Even if they are wounded, we cannot abandon them. What will others think? They will definitely think that Uncle is heartless and ungrateful.”

Li Guo's voice was filled with confusion and bewilderment, as if he were speaking out for the wounded soldiers.

It has to be said that only Li Guo, Li Zicheng's own nephew, would dare to speak like that in front of Li Zicheng. If an ordinary person dared to speak like that, Li Zicheng would have killed him long ago!
Then, a hint of helplessness and weariness appeared in Li Zicheng's eyes, and he slowly said:
“You’re right, what Uncle did does seem a bit heartless, but there’s nothing we can do about it.”

"Because we don't have time to treat their injuries anymore, we can't stay in Henan any longer, we need to go somewhere else."

"But before that, we must discard everything that might hold us back!"

His voice was low and hoarse, as if telling a cruel reality.

When Li Guo heard this, his eyes widened instantly, filled with disbelief.

According to the previously established plan, the army was to remain stationed here until the spring of next year, and then decide what to do next.

But now Li Zicheng says he wants to leave Henan.
At this moment, Li Guo's heart was filled with doubt and confusion.

Just then, Li Zicheng continued:

"Given the current situation, staying here will likely only lead to our demise. According to our scouts, the provinces surrounding Henan have indeed deployed large numbers of Ming troops!"

"These Ming troops are like a large net, slowly tightening around us. If we don't find another way out, we will be trapped and die here under Tongguan sooner or later."

"So we have no choice but to go elsewhere to try our luck."

“You’re not an outsider, so your uncle won’t hide this from you.”

“Under these circumstances, sending our wounded brothers to their deaths would only be sending them to their deaths. After all, they are injured and have difficulty moving, making them a burden during the march. Moreover, they would have almost no power to resist if they encountered the Ming army.”

"It would be better to leave them in Tongguan; that would be a way for them to survive."

After hearing these words, Li Guo's heart was like a turbulent sea, unable to calm down for a long time.

After a moment, he tried to calm himself down, then asked with a look of confusion and worry in his eyes:

"Uncle, where are we going next?"

Li Guo wasn't stupid; he knew Li Zicheng was telling the truth, so he stopped trying to persuade him. What he cared about most now was where they were going next.

Li Zicheng didn't say anything, but suddenly stood up and walked to a map. The map was densely marked with various terrains and cities, and included all the provinces of the Ming Dynasty.

Immediately afterwards, Li Zicheng slowly raised his hand and pointed to one of the locations.

Li Guo walked over and took a look, and was instantly surprised.

Because the location Li Zicheng pointed to was actually Sichuan!
You should know that the road to Sichuan is not easy to travel. It is full of towering mountains and steep ridges, and you don't know how many mountains you have to cross and how many rivers you have to cross.

Li Zicheng noticed Li Guo's surprise and quickly explained:
“Uncle knows what you’re thinking. You just think that Sichuan is mountainous and far away, with treacherous terrain, making it difficult to march. But there’s nothing we can do about it. Right now, there are Ming troops stationed all around Henan. They’re like a pack of hungry wolves, watching us closely.”

“As soon as we move, the Ming troops around us will gather, and we will be surrounded and unable to escape.”

"In comparison, the defenses in Sichuan were relatively weak, and the number of Ming troops there was also relatively small, making it easier for them to break through the encirclement by taking advantage of the terrain."

"Moreover, Sichuan has always been easy to defend and difficult to attack. The continuous mountain range is a natural barrier. Even if 200,000 of the remaining people manage to escape to Sichuan, we will still have the momentum of a dragon entering the sea."

"At that time, no matter how capable the imperial court is, it will be powerless to do anything to us."

"We can recuperate there, build up our strength, and wait for the opportunity to make a comeback."

At this moment, Li Guo fell silent.

But in the end, he said seriously:
"I understand, Uncle. I will listen to you."

Only then did a smile appear on Li Zicheng's face, a smile that carried a hint of relief and anticipation.

Then he patted Li Guo on the shoulder and said:

"I trust you to handle things. You've been with me since you were little, and I believe you can help me achieve great things."

After a pause, Li Zicheng continued:

"As you know, your uncle has no children, and you were raised by him. Over the years, he has always treated you like his own son."

"So everything your uncle has in the future will be yours, so you must never let him down!"

Even though Li Zicheng had a smile on his face when he said this, he couldn't help but feel disappointed!
Because he actually didn't have a son!
He didn't even have a biological daughter, let alone a son!
(End of this chapter)