Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 172 Marquis of Pingnan, it all depends on you
Thin, colorful clouds drifted across the light blue sky.

Sunlight streamed through the clouds, casting countless dappled shadows on the earth.

Despite the beautiful weather, the Forbidden City in Beijing was shrouded in dark clouds.

As for the source of the dark clouds, it could only be the angry Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

"Traitors, despicable!"

"Where are all my loyal troops?!"

With a furious expression, Emperor Chongzhen slammed the urgent memorial in his hand to the ground.

The Imperial Study was extremely quiet, so quiet that only the ticking of the grandfather clock could be heard.

'Thump~~~'

The clock suddenly struck the hour, making everyone's hearts skip a beat.

If the emperor loses his temper, the ministers outside might be fine, but the eunuchs and palace maids would definitely suffer.

"hu~hu~"

The Chongzhen Emperor, his eyebrows twitching, clenched his fists and his breathing became heavier; he was about to explode.

"Your Majesty~~~"

Wang Chengen, the eunuch who had been ill, rushed in, carrying a memorial in his hand, his old face beaming with joy. "Great news!"

"Humph."

Emperor Chongzhen sneered repeatedly, "The rebel army has already stationed its troops at Baliqiao, what is there to be happy about?"

Lin Dao's army swept across the northern Zhili region and the capital area, and now its advance is aimed directly at the capital.

The entire capital was in a state of panic, with all sorts of rumors flying around.

Last night, rumors even broke out that thieves had entered the city, causing quite a commotion.

"Your Majesty, the Guan Ning Army has arrived!"

Wang Chengen, who had previously been hiding, dispelled the gloom on Emperor Chongzhen's face with just one sentence.

Has the last fighting legion of the Ming Dynasty truly come to the aid of the emperor?
When Huang Taiji broke through the pass and marched south, the Guan Ning Army did not come, citing the reason of guarding Shanhaiguan.

When Shi Kefa was in charge of leading the troops to defend the emperor and issued more than a dozen orders, the Guan Ning army still did not arrive.

When the combined Mongol and Tatar forces suffered a major defeat and the imperial court ordered the interception of the fleeing troops, the Guan Ning Army still did not arrive.

Lin Zexu's army is now almost surrounding the capital, and the Guan Ning Army has actually arrived?
Emperor Chongzhen was also puzzled. Why was the Guan Ning Army, which usually obeyed orders but not summons, so obedient this time?

It's good that they didn't come.

"Very well." Emperor Chongzhen breathed a sigh of relief. "Issue an imperial edict to elevate Wu Sangui to the rank of Earl of Pingnan and bestow upon him ten thousand taels of silver!"

He was also short of money.

There are tens of thousands of mouths to feed in the palace, so many soldiers and troops in and around the city, and numerous nobles, imperial relatives and officials.

For Emperor Chongzhen, whose fiscal revenue was almost nonexistent, a reward of 10,000 taels of silver was already a huge investment.

Wang Chengen, who had lost the emperor's favor due to his previous false report of the rebel army's defeat, also breathed a sigh of relief.

His efforts in mobilizing all his resources and constantly monitoring news from all sides were not in vain.

Finally, thanks to the good news of the Guan Ning Army's arrival to reinforce them, they were able to return to the Emperor's side.

"We only hope that the Earl of Pingnan can defeat the Lin bandits and relieve the capital from its crisis."

No matter how turbulent the outside world may be, for these eunuchs, the Emperor will always be their heaven.

It has always been said that civil officials who surrender are given important positions, and military generals who surrender are also given important positions.

I've never heard of a eunuch being given an important position after surrendering.

In such a crisis, only eunuchs would genuinely hope that the crisis would be resolved.

"Lord Pingnan, we're counting on you."

Ji County, the Guan Ning Army's main camp.

Wu Sangui casually tossed aside the imperial edict of reward sent by the court and anxiously asked, "Has General Lin replied?"

Li Yousong, a local gentry member from Shanhaiguan who was recruited to accompany the group, stepped forward and replied, "The people sent have not yet returned."

Wu Sangui, looking anxious, got up and paced back and forth.

"We are only trying to survive, what are you hesitating for, Commander?"

Lin Dao hesitated, wondering how to completely annihilate these tens of thousands of Guan Ning troops without inflicting too much loss on his side.

"Payment is being distributed at the drill ground; soldiers and armor are not permitted."

"The Guan Ning Army isn't stupid!"

"Direct military intervention?"

"The losses at this point are not worthwhile."

"trouble."

How to deal with Guan Ning Army was also a small problem for him.

For Wu Sangui and other generals of the Guan-Ning Army who had fought against the Tartars on the front lines for many years, no one in the world knew better than them how formidable the Tartar army was.

Do you really think the Guan Ning Army is naturally inclined to maneuver like the wind on the battlefield?
We were forced into this situation by the Tartars!

In the Tartar army, any armored soldier was almost as capable of fighting as a household guard in the Guan Ning Army.

In other words, the Tartars had tens of thousands of retainers.

Back then, Li Chengliang only had eight thousand servants.

Yet, this powerful Tartar army, under the personal leadership of Huang Taiji, still went to fight against Lin Dao.

The result was that almost the entire army was wiped out!

Even the invincible Huang Taiji is dead!

For the Tartars, this was a catastrophe-level disaster.

For the Guan Ning Army, this was also a bolt from the blue.

They were soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, while Lin Dao was a rebel army.

In other words, the Guan Ning Army would eventually have to face Lin Dao's forces, who had annihilated the Tartar army.

Faced with the Lin Dao troops, who were even more terrifying and capable than the Tartars, everyone in the Guan Ning Army shared the same thought.

"I can't fight!"

Since we can't fight, we have no choice but to surrender.

Lin Dao, who was in Tongzhou, finally made a decision: "Go back and tell Wu Sangui to come see me in person."

He doesn't have a hobby of collecting celebrities.

Summoning Wu Sangui was also a way to see this famous opportunist in person.

Set a few traps for him and see if he falls for them.

If you step on it, you'll be killed instantly.

If we don't step on them, let the Guan Ning Army live on for a while, and consider it as making use of waste.

Lin Dao never intended to let the Guan Ning Army off the hook, let alone take in these arrogant and spoiled soldiers.

The Guan Ning Army, supported by millions of taels of silver in Liaodong military pay each year, had long since become a self-contained system. This proud and fierce army would follow whoever paid them, and even then, it was only a nominal following, much like a mercenary force.

Lin Dao has money, but he won't give it to them.

They even planned to physically eliminate this monstrous tumor.

Upon receiving the news, Wu Sangui did not hesitate and arrived very quickly.

He arrived in Tongzhou at top speed with only a group of servants.

After a thorough search, Wu Sangui finally found Lin Dao.

"Wu Sangui pays his respects to the Commander-in-Chief!"

The newly appointed Earl of Pingnan is very determined and persevering. Once he decides to vote, he does so without hesitation.

"You are Wu Sangui?"

Lin Dao carefully examined the person in front of him.

He was tall and robust, clearly a strong and powerful man.

He has a square face and a dignified appearance, giving the impression of a loyal and righteous person.

"This humble servant is none other than Wu Sangui!"

Wu Sangui then performed another grand ceremony, kowtowing repeatedly in a loud voice.

Historically, when he met Dorgon, he also knelt down in the same way.

Lin Dao smiled and asked, "The Guan Ning Army, are they really willing to surrender to me?"

"Yes." Wu Sangui, his scalp pressed to the ground, immediately replied, "The Guan Ning Army, with its 10,000 cavalry and over 40,000 infantry, is willing to die for the Commander-in-Chief!"

This was their last asset, which they specifically pointed out in front of the commander-in-chief.

Lin Dao sized him up and spoke again, "I don't have any Liaodong funds for you."

"Your Excellency is wise!"

Wu Sangui didn't even look up. "It's supposed to be the Liaodong military pay, but 30% of it has already been lost before it even left the capital."

"From the military supervisors, eunuchs, and governors' offices to the local grain transport commissioners, each commissioner takes a 30% cut."

"Furthermore, due to the long delays in payment for castle construction, the actual amount that our Guan Ning Army received was not as much as the rumors outside."

This has been a tradition of the Ming Dynasty.

As long as it's the government's money and grain, there will always be countless hands reaching out to grope and grab it.

If 30% of them can actually be used for practical purposes, that would be considered good.

"Don't bother explaining this to me." Lin Dao simply shook his head. "I don't have any Liaodong military pay here, and I won't be providing you with military supplies or provisions."

Wu Sangui finally raised his head, his gaze towards Lin Dao filled with doubt.

Is this a plan to starve the Guan Ning army to death?

That's incredibly disrespectful.

We have 50,000 soldiers!

Even if it were 50,000 pigs, they could still kill many of you by crashing into it!

The atmosphere inside the tent was noticeably oppressive.

"Since you're willing to vote for me."

Lin Dao stared at his face. "You should at least offer a pledge of allegiance."

"What if we take the capital?"

They didn't mention any benefits, just demands.

This is not nonsense, but a crushing defeat based on strength.

Eliminating the Guan Ning Army was just a matter of a little more work for Lin Dao.

Wu Sangui's expression shifted uncertainly. "The entire Guan Ning Army is willing to die for the Commander-in-Chief."

"But, but~~~"

You're not paying us wages or rations, yet you expect us to risk our lives for you?
Isn't this too disrespectful?
Lin Dao's face was stern, his expression as hard as iron. "You are unwilling?"

"If you don't want to, you can leave."

The Ming Dynasty is finished.

The bandit Lin has even reached the gates of the capital.

Henan, Shaanxi, and other places also fell into Li Chuang's hands.

The Guan Ning Army, huddled around Shanhaiguan, was simply unable to support themselves.

If they don't join Lin Dao, they can only join the Tartars.

Before Huang Taiji's defeat, they were more willing to surrender to the Tartars.

But for Huang Taiji to surrender after his defeat is simply insane.

It's just as bad as those who went to become eunuchs after the Xinhai Revolution.

They had no choice.

Wu Sangui bowed again, saying, "I am willing to die for the General!"

"Take the capital." Lin Dao stood up and looked down at Wu Sangui, who was kneeling on the ground and performing a grand salute. "Carry out the torture and pay, and then take half of the income from the Guan Ning Army."

After the capital, there were the Tartars beyond the Great Wall, the grassland tribes, Korea, the Tokugawa Shogunate, and overseas barbarians, and so on.

The Guan Ning Army will eventually be completely consumed in endless wars.

It can be regarded as waste utilization.

Upon hearing this, Wu Sangui's spirits soared.

He knew all too well how wealthy the capital was.

Which of those noble officials, courtiers, and imperial relatives wasn't incredibly wealthy?
The emperor was a poor man.

Half a percent is just too little~~~
He opened his mouth, wanting to try and get a little more.

Even just 10% would be good.

Lin Dao waved his hand directly, "I want to see results within three days."

"If it cannot be done, there is no need for the Guan Ning Army to remain."

"Three days?" Wu Sangui's heart tightened.

The Guan Ning Army was stationed in Ji County. It would be difficult for them to reach the capital in three days, let alone capture it.

He had a lot to say, but Lin Dao had already turned and left.

To him, the entire Guan Ning Army was nothing more than a tool.

Use it if it works, destroy it if it doesn't.

He is not the Ming Dynasty, and he does not need to rely on these arrogant and fierce generals to protect the last fig leaf.

"If you fail to accomplish your mission, I will wipe you out!"

(End of this chapter)