Ming Dynasty entry: I am Chongzhen, the greatest emperor of all time!

Chapter 74: Are we still entering the country?

It is said that Zhang Xianzhong streamlined his troops again, laying off most of the old and weak, leaving only 240,000 elite soldiers, who headed straight for Wu Gorge at a speed of 60 miles a day.

Before Zuo Liangyu and his troops could react, most of their ferries were seized by the vanguard of the Dashi Army.

In the past, such battle reports from more than 2,000 miles away would take at least 15 days to reach the capital.

The prerequisite is that someone dares to write this battle report and risk being charged with "failing to supervise the battle and letting the enemy escape."

However, since Zhu Youjian defeated the rebel army of one million with the Guanning Army and the remaining troops of the capital, the news spread rapidly throughout the Ming Dynasty, which had already been in chaos, like ink falling into water.

Hundreds of thousands of defeated troops confirmed the news.

Then came the news of a series of actions including reorganizing the Ministry of War, dismissing civil officials who supervised the army, building a shrine to heroes, making promises to soldiers all over the world, and improving the status of soldiers and generals.

The situation changed in an instant.

The military leaders of various towns saw that the Ming Dynasty had not yet reached the point of national destruction and were worried about being punished later.

Or it was because they could not defeat the elite soldiers of the capital who numbered over one million.

No matter what the reason is, no one dares to treat the capital as nothing as before.

Only five days passed from the time Zhang Xianzhong changed his stance until the capital received the news.

During these five days, earth-shaking changes took place in the Ming Dynasty.

Li Zicheng, with 40,000 defeated troops and about 30,000 defenders from various places in northern Zhili, rushed to Datong at an extremely fast speed.

Of the dozens of generals who followed him into battle, less than half returned. Generals Liu Zongmin, Liu Fangliang, and Tian Jianxiu were killed in battle, and Yuan Zongde fled north.

The 100,000-strong Li Yan's left army in Henan also withdrew to Shanxi one after another.

Faced with the unstable morale of the rebel army and the great victory of the capital, the Ming army in the three towns of Henan and Nanzhili gathered 130,000 soldiers, hoping to take advantage of Li Yan's retreat to give him a big blow and show off their reputation in front of the emperor.

So Gao Jie left Nanyang, and Liu Liangzuo and Chen Yongfu left Kaifeng, trying to attack Li Yan's central army from two directions.

However, the latter ambushed and attacked at night with 30,000 troops in Ruzhou, and Chen Yongfu's 40,000 troops fought to the death.

Unexpectedly, Gao Jie and Liu Liangzuo did not dare to send troops to support because of the darkness and did not know how many troops were in ambush.

Chen Yongfu died in battle and the army was defeated.

Gao Jie and Liu Liangzuo were too lazy to even gather their defeated soldiers, and hurriedly led their troops back to Kaifeng in a rout.

I watched helplessly as Li Yan slowly returned to Shanxi with half of Henan's wealth.

As the highest official in Henan Province, King Zhou Zhu Gongyao, who had spent all his family wealth and defended Kaifeng three times, certainly could not tolerate this, and immediately sent a horseman to the capital to file a complaint.

At the same time, several major events occurred in the capital.

The first was Wang Yongji, the governor of Ji and Liao, who was known as the King of the North and the Historian of the South. He led 500,000 soldiers and civilians from outside the Great Wall back to northern Zhili.

Northern Wang and Southern Shi refer to Wang Yongji, the governor of the capital, and Shi Kefa, the governor of Nanjing.

The latter's name Zhu Youjian is well-known. He was the first minister of the Southern Ming Dynasty and single-handedly contributed to the existence of the Southern Ming Dynasty. His ability is unquestionable.

The fact that Wang Yongji is as famous as Shi Kefa must be due to his own unique qualities.

When the peasant army rose up in rebellion and the whole country was in turmoil, Wang Yongji went to Shandong alone and suppressed Shandong Daoyi who also wanted to rebel.

In the 16th year of Chongzhen, the Qing army entered the pass and most of Shandong fell. Wang Yongji did not report the losses. After the Qing army had plundered enough and returned outside the pass, Wang Yongji took back various parts of Shandong and reported the recovery of lost territory.

Chongzhen knew about these dirty deeds, but thought Wang Yongji was quick-witted, so he sent him to Liaodong.

After being appointed Governor of Ji and Liao, he proposed to abandon Ningyuan, the last of the three towns outside the Great Wall, and withdraw the army back to Shanhaiguan, so as to provide cover for the capital and attack Li Zicheng from the north and south.

Chongzhen also agreed.

But later, Li Zicheng broke into the capital, Dorgon raised the banner of revenge for the Ming Dynasty, and Wang Yongji and Wu Sangui surrendered to the Qing Dynasty together, and were successfully listed on the list of traitors.

At this time, Zhu Youjian did not hang himself, but instead defeated Li Zicheng.

Wang Yongji naturally brought the soldiers and civilians outside the Great Wall back to the interior.

However, this old guy was a bit timid. He noticed that the Jiannu were gathering outside the pass. The main force of the Guanning Army in Shanhaiguan returned to the capital to defend the king, and they were unable to stop the Jiannu at all.

He immediately made a decision, crossed Shanhaiguan, and brought 500,000 soldiers and civilians directly to the vicinity of the capital.

This added another 300,000 dan of food to the already food-scarce capital.

Zhu Youjian has been so worried these days that his head is almost going bald.

Fortunately, Li Ruolian gave him a suggestion that the capital still had more than 200,000 dan of grain in reserve.

Places like Jiangnan are originally lands of fish and rice, and this place has a strong business atmosphere.

There must be... clues of treason!
Li Ruolian was willing to take the Jinyiwei to Nanjing to rectify the Southern Pacification Office and strengthen the administration of the south, and to search for clues of grain merchants colluding with the enemy.

As long as the grain transportation route is unobstructed, the first batch of grain will arrive in the capital within three months.

This will alleviate the urgent need.

Zhu Youjian had no objection, and in order to ensure the confiscation of property... the operation of searching for spies would be more secure and also ensure the stability of the situation in Jiangnan.

The military inspector Fan Jingwen was specially appointed as the Grand Secretary of the Dongge, and was in charge of confidential matters. In simple terms, he was appointed as a cabinet minister.

Let Fan Jingwen lead Zhang Huangyan to the south to suppress the southern aristocratic officials who want to surrender, and exchange them for Shi Kefa.

At the same time, he reminded Li Ruolian and Fan Jingwen that food and silver were equally important, and they could contact Zheng Zhilong if necessary.

They promised him anything and asked him to bring his navy to help transport food, fodder and silver.

Anyway, when I have time, I will just split up his navy and let Zheng Zhilong go home to retire.

I don’t know how Zheng Chenggong is doing now. Has he already made a name for himself, or is he a younger version of Zhang Huangyan?

After three days of grand court meetings, the capital and even northern Zhili finally recovered.

Nearly 900,000 refugees and the elderly and weak who were not suitable for military service were scattered in cities near the capital to cultivate fertile farmland.

Thanks to the high production of the large workshop set up by the Ministry of Works in front of the Arsenal during the defense of the city, the weapons and armor damaged in the war that could not be repaired were selected and converted into farm tools for distribution.

This year, no rent or tax will be collected from the reclaimed farmland. Only interest on the seeds will be collected, which accounts for 30% of the total harvest.

Then the refugees kept calling out to His Majesty for his mercy.

Zhu Youjian even suspected that he had asked for too low a price.

Huang Degong led the generals who had emerged from the war to repair the strong cities such as the capital, Tianjin and Juyongguan, so as to have the strength to resist when the Jiannu entered the pass.

Zhang Shize and 25,000 cavalrymen of the 3,000-man battalion have already set out towards the Chahar tribe and are expected to arrive in seven days.

Everything is going in a good place.

When the entire northern Zhili was busy with work.

The Jiannu, Later Jin, Jurchen and, more accurately, the Qing Dynasty in the north were also busy.

The eight banners of the Jurchens and Mongols were gathering in Shengjing in a mighty force.

Originally, Dorgon was ready to confront Li Zicheng.

News came that Zhu Youjian had broken the million mark.

In Shengjing City.

Although it is April, the north is still very cold.

There is a small and simple mansion located in it. Any fifth-rank official in the capital or a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River would have a mansion several times more luxurious than this one.

However, in front of such an inconspicuous mansion, there were many war horses and sedan chairs.

And the people who live there are famous all over the world.

It was none other than Prince Rui, Dorgon, the actual controller of the Qing Dynasty!
At this time, Dorgon was only 32 years old, one year younger than Zhu Youjian.

But his power was already established, and among the eight banners of the Jurchens, the upper three banners, namely the Bordered Yellow Banner, the Plain Yellow Banner and the Plain White Banner, were all in his hands.

The Bordered White Banner was also in the hands of his younger brother Duoduo.

At this time, the Qing Dynasty still had a unified military and political system, and military power represented the political power.

Therefore, the nominal emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Huang Taiji Shunzhi, could only be a puppet.

In other words, Shunzhi was pushed to the throne by Dorgon and Ajige together.

The purpose is to keep the power firmly in his hands.

At this time, Dorgon had enough power. He only needed enough political reputation to seize the throne and ascend to the throne himself!
And now there is no easier way to gain political prestige than to fight against the Ming Dynasty. After all, military power is political power, and military merit is political work.

But things have changed a little now.

Two candlesticks illuminated the hall. Several soldiers in armor with yellow banners stood in the corridor with swords drawn. The copper nails on their cotton armor gleamed coldly in the firelight.

Dorgon leaned back in the armchair, stroking the jade ring with his fingertips, looking at the newly added cinnabar mark on the "Da Ming Kunyu Tu" on the wall, and pondered for a long time.

"Brother Fourteen!"

Duoduo, the leader of the Bordered White Banner, ran into the hall quickly, the hem of his dragon robe still stained with black mud.

"That old dog Fan Wencheng has sent another secret report, saying that the Southern Dynasty Emperor's son is mobilizing the best troops in the country to rush to the capital!"

The few people who had arrived early in the warm room looked up when they heard this.

Daishan, the leader of the two red flags, trembled his hand holding the pipe, but showed no reaction on his face.

Jirgalang, the leader of the Bordered Blue Banner, was even more patient, just closing his eyes and twirling his Buddhist beads.

Dorgon didn't even raise his eyelids. "Fifteenth brother, can't you be more calm? What does it mean to be so flustered?"

Duoduo tried to argue with his neck stiff, but the sound of uneven footsteps came from outside.

Haoge, the leader of the Zhenglan Banner, rushed in with a cold air.

He asked impatiently, "What do you want to call me for?"

He and Dorgon had a very bad relationship. As the eldest son of Huang Taiji, he should have inherited the throne, but Dorgon and Ajige interfered and supported the young Shunzhi to become emperor.

They also took away thirty of his ninety Niulu in the Zhenglan Banner.

It would be strange if he was happy about it.

Dorgon finally turned around.

The candlelight cast shadows on his high cheekbones. "If Prince Su is anxious to return to the palace to serve the emperor in his studies, I will have a sedan chair prepared immediately."

"You!" The veins on Hauge's hand pressing on the knife bulged.

Tan Tai, Gushan Ezhen of the Bordered Yellow Banner, immediately drew his sword behind him.

All the banner owners in the room held their breath. Ever since Huang Taiji's sudden death, the hatred between Nurhaci's sons, headed by Dorgon, and Huang Taiji's clan was higher than the White Mountain.

"Ahem." Daishan stood up tremblingly to smooth things over, his pipe making a crisp sound on the table.

"Let's get down to business first. The scouts from the Southern Dynasty have reported!"

"A million Shun troops attacked the Southern Dynasty's capital, but were defeated by Chongzhen's son. A bunch of great generals died. Now it's difficult to attack the capital."

Duoduo waved his hand dismissively. "What's so hard about fighting? Li Zicheng's bunch of weak southerners, even though they claim to have a million men, are nothing but refugees. Give me fifty Niulu and I can defeat them!"

Jirgalang chuckled, and several Jialazhangjing of the Bordered White Banner followed suit.

Dorgon changed the subject expressionlessly, "I heard that the Southern Dynasty Emperor used 500 red-coated cannons to destroy the Shun army camp?"

These words were like a basin of cold water poured on a charcoal fire, and Duoduo suddenly fell silent.

He knew the power of the red cannon, especially when used to defend the city, it played a huge role.

The Eight Banners of the Jurchens were all cavalry and had no way to resist.

Daishan said with emotion, "Yes, I was not able to do it at the beginning. If the spies in the south had not intercepted the secret letter from Li Zicheng's chief strategist to Zhang Xianzhong, I am afraid that our Eight Banners men would have pounced on us."

"Four hundred thousand new troops and fifty thousand Shenjiying troops. I don't know where the Southern Dynasty Emperor got them from."

Hauge took the opportunity to shake off Tan Tai and pointed to the location of the capital on the map and asked.

"Uncle Fifteen said a month ago that the Southern Dynasty's capital was within easy reach. Our various banners immediately abandoned their fat cattle and sheep and came to Shengjing. Now they have 200,000 new troops in training and 500 red-coated cannons standing, and we are going to imitate them like moths flying into the flame?"

Dorgon rubbed his jade ring and didn't bother to pay attention to Haoge.

"Prince Su said that," Du Lei, Gushan Ezhen of the Zhenghong Banner, continued, "When the old Khan raised his army with thirteen sets of armor, the Yehe tribe also said that we were moths flying into the flame."

Hauge's face changed suddenly.

When Nurhaci destroyed Yehe, it was Du Lei's grandfather who led the way.

These words clearly touched upon his old wound that his mother was from Yehe.

"If you ask me," Daishan interrupted, shaking his white beard, "our Eight Banners just suffered a setback in Ningyuan last year. It would be better for us to wait for the Southern Dynasty and the bandits to waste time."

"Wait?" Dorgon suddenly said, "Wait until the Southern Dynasty has patched up the holes in Xuanfu and Datong? Wait until the Mongolian tribes feel that the horses of my Eight Banners are too fat to move?"

"Prince Li has been so used to a happy life that he has forgotten how many good men have died of starvation and cold in these lands!"

The room was filled with dead silence. Hauge wanted to say something, but he saw Duoduo and the Jiala Zhangjing of the Bordered White Banner all took half a step forward with their swords drawn.

"Then should we still enter the pass?" Jirgalang said the first sentence.

"Enter the Pass." Dorgon said without question.

"Why do we have to enter the pass now?" Daishan was puzzled. "Winter has just ended, and the cattle and horses are fattening up. Why not wait until autumn when the cattle and horses are fat and strong before entering the pass?"

"The Southern Dynasty has just experienced a great war." Dorgon handed the secret report on the desk to Daishan's feet.

"The Southern Dynasty dismissed 900,000 soldiers and converted them to farming. The capital's grain reserves were less than 300,000 dan. Li Zicheng left behind a mountain of weapons and armor. The Southern Dynasty emperor was in the process of training his elite troops. Fan Wencheng's spies witnessed this firsthand. With a recent victory, people were restless."

"If we enter the pass now, we will surely catch them off guard. But if we wait until autumn, when the increasingly powerful Southern Dynasty emperor has trained his elite troops, it will not be so easy to enter the pass then."

Jirgalang twisted his Buddhist beads and pondered, "Even so, the Southern Dynasty still has elite divisions such as the Guanning Army."

"The Guanning Army is nothing!"

Duoduo snorted disdainfully, "If there were no Shanhaiguan, the Guanning Army would have been wiped out by our men long ago!"

"If you ask me, we should advance in three directions! I will lead the Zhenglan Banner through Gubeikou, my fourteenth brother will go through Shanhaiguan, and my nephew Hauge will go through Datong."

After he finished speaking, he found that everyone was looking at Dorgon and no one was paying attention to him at all.

"We must enter the Pass." Dorgon pointed his finger at the city of Beijing. "Not only must we enter, but we must also occupy Shanhaiguan, leaving the Southern Dynasty with no external defenses."

"I will personally lead the two yellow flags as the vanguard, with the blue flags in support, and take Shanhaiguan directly."

"My second brother led two red flags from Chahar into the Ming Dynasty and attacked from the west."

"Fifteenth brother, lead the Bordered White Banner and the Eight Mongolian Banners through Xifengkou and head straight for Shandong Road, attacking the Southern Dynasty from three sides!"

"Fourteenth brother." Daishan's pipe trembled. "This move is a bit unnecessary. Shandong suffered a severe drought last year, and now there are refugees everywhere. There's nothing good to steal."

"It's not about robbing, but about chaos!"

Dorgon's tone remained unchanged. "The refugees are so hungry that they're even eating Guanyin soil. Do you think they'll kneel and shout 'Long live the Eight Banners' grain carts when they see them?"

"Whenever you encounter a group of refugees, just let them flee south!"

Jirgalang suddenly opened his eyes and asked, "What if the Southern Dynasty emperor sent troops to suppress it?"

"That's perfect." Dorgon smiled like a wolf that smelled blood. "Let the Han people kill the Han people. When they are angry enough, we can go and put order in order!"

Seeing that the situation was already decided, Hauge knew that he could only follow Dorgon's strategy.

He also stood up and saluted, saying, "Fourteenth uncle is a master strategist, and I admire you. But the army is going to the battle this time, and the allocation of food and grass..."

"Prince Su, don't worry." Dorgon took out the tiger talisman from his bosom and threw it to Haoge. "From now on, the eight major granaries in Shengjing will be under your control."

Everyone in the hall gasped.

Everyone knows that the Eight Great Granaries store food for the Eight Banners to survive the winter. Is Dorgon handing his lifeline to Hauge?

Haoge was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, "Fourteenth uncle is really straightforward! Nephew will go and organize the army now."

With Hauge's departure, a large-scale southern expedition was hastily decided.

After the sound of the crowd's footsteps faded away, Duoduo stamped his feet anxiously, "Brother! If the eight warehouses are given to that wolf cub, we will be left with nothing."

Dorgon looked back at the map slowly and said, "Hauge will not act recklessly. If he dares to do so and ruin the southern expedition plan, even the emperor will not be able to protect him."

Having said that, Dorgon paused. He really hoped that Hauge would cause trouble so that there wouldn't be so much trouble.

"Send people to the various tribes and tell them that the Ming army is already strong. If they don't want to be wiped out, they should gather their entire tribe and wait for me at Zhangjiakou!"

"By the way, take the armor captured from the Ming army last year with you. Tell them that the Ordos tribe has received 5,000 war horses from Mongolia this year. Whoever contributes the most can choose any city to plunder!"

(End of this chapter)