One day later, Li Daiwen, Hong Chengchou, Ma Shaoyu, and Zhang Ruoqi led a large group of Beijing camp officers and soldiers, escorted more than 4.7 million taels of silver, and entered the Dubiao camp in a mighty manner. The five hundred thousand taels of silver and three hundred thousand shi of grain allocated to Liu Yan also arrived.
Upon seeing this, Liu Yan and the chief military officers of each town beamed with joy and thanked Li Daiwen, Hong Chengchou and others with fists in their hands. After hearing the news, the officers and soldiers of each town burst into joy and shouted "Long live".
But Li Daiwen and Hong Chengchou were not so happy. In order to raise more than five million taels of silver, the two of them offended almost all the powerful people in Beijing. Now their names are in Beijing. It's a stinky street.
At this time, Chen Xinjia was extremely glad that he did not raise money with him. Seeing the fatigue and worry on Hong Chengchou's brows, Chen Xinjia thought to himself: "I want to see how you can gain a foothold in the government. How long can you hold on to this position of chief minister?"
After everyone chatted for a while, Hong Chengchou and Li Daiwen distributed silver rewards and pensions to the soldiers in each town. Liu Yan also received additional money and food, and Emperor Chongzhen exempted Qinglai Town from taxes and salaries for five years. Let’s face it, it’s been a bumper harvest this time.
On the same day, Liu Yan, Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, Wu Sangui and other more than a dozen general military officers took out the apology papers prepared in advance and handed them to Hong Chengchou to take back to the palace. Emperor Chongzhen breathed a sigh of relief when he saw everyone's papers and went to the palace immediately. A banquet was given to see off the chief military officers of each town.
During the banquet, Liu Yan and others entered the main hall of Qianqing Palace one by one. Although Emperor Chongzhen was still angry, he still had to go through the necessary procedures, reward everyone, and encourage them.
Wang Chengen also announced
After reading the lengthy "Victory Memorial Table", after the celebration was over, they burned the sacrifice to heaven and earth.
After going through the process, Liu Yan, Hong Chengchou and a group of general military officers followed Wang Chengen to the side hall, where Emperor Chongzhen held a banquet to practice for everyone.
There are still four plates of food and one pot of wine per person. Let alone the palace, such dishes can't even compare to the family banquets of wealthy businessmen and officials.
When Hong Chengchou, Yang Guozhu, Wu Sangui and others saw it, they all burst into tears and begged Emperor Chongzhen for better food and clothing.
Liu Yan was also moved in his heart. As the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, it was really not easy for Emperor Chongzhen to be so frugal, but it could only go so far.
Emperor Chongzhen was a suspicious and extreme person. He had to do everything by himself, but his ability was not up to par. Therefore, when such a person became an emperor, it would be better to catch up with the peacetime. Maybe he would still be a conservative king. At most, he would cause some minor troubles. There will be something too outrageous.
But Emperor Chongzhen was very unlucky. He could be said to be the unluckiest emperor in the Ming Dynasty. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, he was surrounded by powerful enemies outside and raging thieves inside. There were natural disasters that had never happened in a century in consecutive years, and there were a bunch of vampire-like people behind him. Minister Erwuzi.
Coupled with the shortcomings of Emperor Chongzhen's character, the more diligent Emperor Chongzhen was, the more corrupt the Ming Dynasty's situation became. Originally, Emperor Tianqi left behind Sun Chengzong and other powerful men, as well as Wei Zhongxian, a powerful weapon to suppress the Donglin Party. In addition, in the later period, Hong Chengchou, Yuan Chonghuan, Cao Bianjiao, Lu Xiangsheng, Sun Chuanting and other famous generals and powerful men were left behind. Even if the Ming Dynasty suffered from internal and external troubles, it could still survive. It won't be a problem to survive for another few decades.
However, Emperor Chongzhen couldn't stand it, so he killed Wei Zhongxian and made the Donglin Party bigger.
Taiyi Station forced Li Zicheng to rebel, and then "hands-on" various famous generals who were able to conquer the Qing Dynasty and rebelled against thieves were killed one by one. The Ming Dynasty also completely lost the chance of survival under Emperor Chongzhen's repeated "fine-tuning".
At this time, the monarch and his ministers were harmonious at the banquet, Emperor Chongzhen was chatting and laughing with everyone, and Liu Yan naturally became the focus of everyone. Who would have thought that just two days ago, everyone was still unable to stand up to Emperor Chongzhen?
"Haha, the slave thieves are defeated, the bandits are dispersed, our Ming Dynasty will eventually usher in a state of resurgence, dear friends..."
"...I place my hope on all of you. I hope that all of you will follow the example of Dinglubo and return to guard various places, follow the example of Qinglai Town, organize and train new armies, and train more elite soldiers for our Ming Dynasty..."
At the end of the banquet, Emperor Chongzhen was already drunk. With the help of the eunuchs, he went back to rest. Everyone was also preparing to leave the palace. At this time, everyone was very excited.
At this time, Wang Chengen came over and stopped Liu Yan. The two of them walked aside and whispered: "Ding Lupo must remember your majesty's kindness when he goes back this time. If this incident hadn't been for your majesty's magnanimity, what would have been the outcome?" Rupp knew."
Liu Yan made a "fearful" look and said a few nice words.
Wang Chengen was very satisfied and said: "Haha, Your Majesty intends to let all towns follow the example of training the new army. After Dinglupp returns, he will sort out the training experience of the new army and report it to the Ministry of War. Please remember this matter and do not hide it. Private."
"Don't worry, father-in-law, this town will handle this matter as soon as possible."
Liu Yan sneered in his heart. The reason why the new army in Qinglai Town was strong was because of the huge investment of money and food, which allowed the soldiers to have food and clothing, and clear rewards and punishments; because all the soldiers were allocated land.
, allowing soldiers to have no worries; because the standardization and institutionalization of firearms allow soldiers to use firearms to kill enemies on a large scale without any worries.
Even if Liu Yan wrote out these experiences and lessons and sent them to the towns to read, they would not be able to learn from them.
Because in other military towns, no matter how much money or food they have, they cannot get it into the hands of the soldiers. Starting from the commander-in-chief of each town, the generals at all levels are exploiting them, and there is not much farmland left in the army. If there is no determination to start over, , even Yang Guozhu, Cao Bianjiao, Wu Sangui and others in each town could not organize and train new armies. The most they could do was reorganize the existing troops.
After leaving the palace, Liu Yan and others rushed back to their respective camps and began to organize their troops and prepare to return to their respective stations.
Hong Chengchou also rushed back to the Dubiao Camp, and then sent people to inform the chief military officers of each town. The Ministry of War only gave each town two days. Once the time was up, the troops in each town must move out without delay.
When Liu Yan returned to the camp, he summoned the generals of each battalion. Everyone was extremely lively at this time, talking and laughing in the Chinese army tent. Liu Yan joked with everyone for a while, and then said: "The imperial court ordered the troops in each town to withdraw the day after tomorrow at the latest. Let’s go, this town has decided that early tomorrow morning, each battalion will set off and return to Qingzhou Fucheng.”
"go home!"
"It's good now, we can still catch up with the New Year."
The crowd cheered endlessly, and the soldiers of the New Army battalions went to bed early that night. Early the next morning, the horns of the New Army battalions in Qinglai Town were blaring frequently, and the soldiers and horses of each battalion were mobilizing and gathering.
This movement immediately aroused panic in the surrounding towns. After hearing the news, Hong Chengchou hurriedly came with the general officers of each town, only to see the soldiers and horses of the New Army battalions packing their bags and preparing to leave.
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief and followed Hong Chengchou to the Guards Camp.
Inside the big tent, I saw that Liu Yan had already packed his luggage, and there was nothing in the big tent.
"Haha, Dinglubo really does what he says!"
Liu Yan smiled and said, "Duke Hong is here to see our soldiers off?"
Hong Chengchou said: "I didn't expect Dinglubo to leave so fast. In a hurry, I could only bring all the generals here. I wish Dinglubo a safe journey."
Liu Yan clasped his fists and said, "Take care, Governor Hong, and generals, take care!"
Everyone stepped forward to say goodbye to Liu Yan. Wang Pu even managed to squeeze out a few tears. Yang Guozhu, Wang Tingchen, Li Fuming and others laughed and made an appointment with Liu Yan for a drink. Cao Bianjiao smiled and said that if he had the chance, he would definitely do so. Liu Yan immediately agreed to go to Qinglai Town to visit and study.
Wu Sangui also stepped forward and said: "Being able to fight side by side with Dinglupp is the greatest honor of Sangui's life. The mountains are high and the rivers are long. We have a long future. We will definitely have many opportunities to work together in the future."
"This town is very lucky to be able to fight the Tartars with An Ning Bo. We will see you later."
At the same time, Liu Yan thought to himself: "It seems that you have no chance to let the Tatars enter the border. I just don't know whether Wu Sangui, you, will be loyal or traitorous in the future?"
An hour later, all the battalions of the new army were assembled. In the biting cold wind, tens of thousands of troops stood motionless like pines and cypresses in the military formation. Such a military appearance shocked all the soldiers.
Hong Chengchou was also filled with admiration, and at the same time thought to himself: "Liu Yan is indeed arrogant. Having such a powerful army is the greatest confidence!"
"Set off!"
"Forward! Forward! Forward!"
"Our new army faces the sun, the land of the motherland, and carries the hope of all people. We are one
An invincible force..."
This military song with lyrics changed by Liu Yan has been sung in all the camps of the New Army. At this time, tens of thousands of soldiers marched in the cold wind, and the loud singing sounded. Hong Chengchou and others were also attracted by this novel tune.
Especially when they heard "We are an invincible force", everyone's expressions changed. Hong Chengchou even frowned slightly, with a bit of worry on his brows.
On the same day, Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, and Li Fuming also ordered to break camp. The three of them followed the road and agreed to withdraw their troops together, heading west from Juyongguan.
Later, Wu Sangui, Liu Zhaoji and other generals from various towns in Liaodong also withdrew one after another. Cao Bianjiao, Ma Ke and Tang Tong were stationed relatively close to each other, so they only broke camp and evacuated the next day.
The more than 200,000 troops outside Deshengmen withdrew one after another. Emperor Chongzhen, Hong Chengchou, Chen Xinjia and others breathed a sigh of relief. The dispute finally ended in peace.
A few days later, Hong Chengchou arrived outside the Meridian Gate in a warm sedan chair, preparing to enter the palace to meet Emperor Chongzhen. Now that he has become the chief minister of the cabinet, he must show some real skills, otherwise with the current attitude of the government and the opposition towards him, this position will be difficult for him. But I can't sit for long, and I can't sit still.
At this time, the servant outside the sedan said through the curtain of the sedan: "Sir, I saw Chen Xinjia, Secretary of the Ministry of War, wandering outside the Meridian Gate. I don't know who he is waiting for."
"Um?"
Hong Chengchou frowned slightly. Chen Xinjia had been avoiding him for the past two days. He was obviously dissatisfied with his appointment as the chief minister of the cabinet. It seemed that he wanted to find an opportunity to beat Chen Xinjia. Don't think that after winning two battles, the Minister of War will go to heaven!
After a while, the warm sedan stopped outside the Meridian Gate, and Hong Chengchou was wearing a cotton cloak.
After walking down, Chen Xinjia, who was not far away, immediately trotted over, looking very panicked.
"Haha, my soldier is here too? The Japanese soldiers seem to be very busy these days. It's hard for me to meet him."
Chen Xinjia did not answer, but pulled Hong Chengchou to the side, then looked at the ministers and guards who were passing by the Meridian Gate with vigilance, and whispered: "Mr. Ge, something is wrong!"
Hong Chengchou looked at Chen Xinjia who was so nervous, and his heart trembled, and he asked: "Did the slave thieves go south again, or is Li Zicheng making a comeback?"
"neither!"
"Then why am I so panicked? Now that internal and external troubles have temporarily subsided, it's time for us to make great progress. What else can make me like this?"
Chen Xinjia lowered his voice and said: "Early this morning, I heard news from Fusi, Beizhen: Zhou Yanru is dead!"
"What!"
Hong Chengchou was also shocked: "How did you die? When did you die? Where did you die?"
After asking three times in a row, Chen Xinjia said with some fear: "It is said that he died in Dong'an County in the south two days ago. According to Fusi in Beizhen, Zhou Yanru's carriage encountered a robber, startled the horse, and then stopped the horse. The carriage rushed into the nearby river, and none of Zhou Yanru, the driver and his entourage escaped, they all drowned!"
Hong Chengchou frowned and asked, "Has the thief been caught?"
"No, not even a ghost. We have searched dozens of miles around Dong'an County, and there is no trace of bandits at all."
"Is this weird?"
"There's something even stranger!"
Chen Xinjia said with fear on his face: "The river next to the official road is very shallow, just below the calf. Such a shallow river cannot be flooded at all.
dead! But Zhou Yanru's three masters and servants, as well as the packhorse pulling the cart, were all drowned! "
At this moment, the cold wind was blowing, but Hong Chengchou was sweating and asked: "What did the Jin Yiwei say?"
"Jinyiwei has conducted an autopsy. No one has any external injuries, and they were indeed drowned."
Chen Xinjia asked: "Mr. Ge, is it your Majesty..."
"Don't guess!"
Hong Chengchou was sure that this matter was definitely not the fault of Emperor Chongzhen, but he thought of a person: "Liu Yan!"
Chen Xinjia was also shocked: "Zhou Yanru did suppress Liu Yan, but Liu Yan has such courage?"
Hong Chengchou glared at Chen Xinjia and said, "That's it for now. Don't mention it to His Majesty when you enter the palace later. Let the people from Beizhen Fusi report it. If anything happens, it has nothing to do with you or me!"
