On the first day of March, Beijing city.
Beijing in early spring was dry and cold, far less warm than the early spring of later generations. Walking on the street, the wind blowing in your face was like a tiny blade, constantly blowing on your face, sucking away the last trace of moisture.
Chen Xinjia got off the sedan and walked into the Meridian Gate. Under the guidance of the young eunuch, he walked towards the imperial study.
Along the way, Chen Xinjia frowned and kept recalling the events of the past few days.
Ever since the news of the Shandong Civil War came, Emperor Chongzhen became furious. He summoned the chief minister of the cabinet, Hong Chengchou, the Minister of Household Affairs, Li Daiwen, and Chen Xinjia to the palace almost every day to discuss the deployment of troops to quell the rebellion.
However, from the end of February to now, the matter has not been discussed and reached a conclusion, making Chen Xinjia feel on pins and needles every day.
Just yesterday, Chen Xinjia received another report from Yan Jizu, the governor of Shandong. In the report, Yan Jizu's words were very fierce, claiming that if the imperial court did not mobilize troops and horses for reinforcements, the fall of Jinan City would be imminent, and he was ready to die for his country!
Thinking of the fall of Jinan Fucheng and the murder of the vassal king in the city by bandits, Chen Xinjia, the Minister of War, broke into a cold sweat. Such a result was enough to make him fall into a situation of no return.
Soon, Chen Xinjia came outside the imperial study room. After the eunuch informed him, he walked in.
At this time, Hong Chengchou and Li Daiwen stood aside and bowed their heads in silence. Emperor Chongzhen sat on an armchair made of golden nanmu, with Wang Chengen serving beside him.
"My lord, Chen Xinjia, Secretary of the Ministry of War, pays homage to Your Majesty, my emperor..."
"Get up!"
Chen Xinjia choked and almost didn't catch his breath. He quickly stood up and stood next to Li Daiwen.
"I heard that Yan Jizu was in trouble again?"
"Yes, please take a look at it, Your Majesty."
Chen Xinjia hurriedly submitted the memorial to Wang Chengen, and then looked down at Hong Chengchou, who saw Hong Chengchou shaking his head slightly and looking very unhappy.
Chen Xinjia's heart suddenly sank. It seemed that the deal was still not concluded today.
Sure enough, a moment later, Emperor Chongzhen said coldly: "Yan Jizu, a dignified governor, when he asked the Ministry of War for money and food to rebuild Fubiao Camp, didn't he boast about Haikou and say that he wanted to create an elite force comparable to Liu Yan's new army? Things are about to come. , but he can’t even deal with the mere civilian rebels and bandits, he is really extremely incompetent!”
Chen Xinjia said: "Your Majesty, please calm down. The Ministry of War had no money at the beginning and only gave Yan Jizu tens of thousands of taels of silver. These military expenses were not enough at all. Therefore, Yan Jizu's Fubiao camp only recruited more than a thousand people, and the army was not fully equipped, so the battle Still lacking in strength.”
After saying that, everyone looked at Chen Xinjia. Emperor Chongzhen was angry, while Hong Chengchou and Li Daiwen sighed. At this time, Chen Xinjia told the truth because he wanted to tell Emperor Chongzhen that the current responsibility was not Yan Jizu's, but whose responsibility it was? Is it the emperor’s?
Emperor Chongzhen said coldly: "If that's the case, then why didn't the Ministry of War tell you earlier? It's only now that the money and food are not enough. Why did you, the Minister of the Ministry of War, do it already?"
Chen Xinjia was speechless. Did he really not report it?
Then Chen Xinjia looked at Li Daiwen and saw that Li Daiwen lowered his head and said nothing. He was completely deaf to what was going on outside the window and did not answer any questions.
"This old cunning guy!"
Seeing that things were going astray, Hong Chengchou said: "Your Majesty, we will discuss the reconstruction of Fubiao Camp later. The most urgent task now is to mobilize troops and horses to support Yan Jizu's troops. We must not let the Shandong people grow stronger.
. "
"In mid-February, Henan Governor Gao Mingheng led his troops to capture the remnants of Li Chuang's troops. After recapturing Luoyang City, he led his troops to attack the Mangdang Mountain area. However, they were raided by an army of bandits. More than 20,000 people from Gao Mingheng and below were wiped out. Give it a lifetime."
"At the end of February, Chen Yongfu, the new commander-in-chief of Henan Province, led his troops to help Luoyang City. On the way, he was besieged by Li Zicheng's troops and horses. Thirty thousand of his elite troops lost their troops and generals, and they were defeated and retreated to Kaifeng to defend."
"At the same time, Shaanxi Governor Zheng Chongjian led He Renlong and Li Guoqi's troops to rescue Henan. They were severely wounded by the bandits Liu Zongmin and Li Guo. Tens of thousands of troops were defeated. General He Renlong and his troops fled back to Shaanxi. Governor Zheng Chongjian and his general Li Guoqi fought die."
Hong Chengchou's face became more solemn and he said: "Your Majesty, now that Li Zicheng has resurfaced, the court must put down the Shandong civil uprising as soon as possible, and then concentrate on mobilizing troops to besiege Li Chuang's army. This matter must not be delayed any longer. If Li Zicheng is allowed to sweep the Central Plains again If all the provinces are united with the Shandong bandits, the world will be in danger of being overthrown, and the country will be in danger of collapse!"
Emperor Chongzhen could not sit still at this time, and secretly regretted that he had transferred Liu Yan's troops. If it were Liu Yan who had wiped out Li Zicheng's remaining troops, instead of Gao Mingheng and Chen Yongfu, the grass on Li Zicheng's grave would probably be ten feet high by now!
It was too late to say anything now. Emperor Chongzhen had no choice but to say: "Who will lead the army in the Shandong Civil War?"
"Liu Yan!"
Chen Xinjia directly named him: "Liu Yan's department is in Shandong. He is close and has strong combat power. He is the most suitable candidate."
Hong Chengchou said: "Yan Jizu is the governor, and Liu Yan is the powerful commander-in-chief who has been knighted and sealed as a general. If they come together, who will listen to whom? When the time comes,
The two of them had a disagreement over whether to fight or not! "
Chen Xinjia didn't understand: "Of course Liu Yan listens to Yan Jizu, how can a governor listen to the commander-in-chief?"
Hong Chengchou looked at Chen Xinjia as if he were a fool and said, "I think Yan Jizu can suppress Liu Yan?"
Only then did Chen Xinjia react and blushed and stopped talking.
Emperor Chongzhen saw that the matter had come around again and said, "Then what should we do?"
Hong Chengchou said: "Your Majesty, I thought that since Lu Xiangsheng died in the battle, the post of Shandong Governor has always been vacant. It is better for the imperial court to assign a person as Shandong Governor to oversee the war situation in Shandong, with Yan Jizu as his assistant, and Liu Yan leading his troops to obey the dispatch. In this way, the people of Shandong It will be peaceful in ten days!"
Emperor Chongzhen looked at Hong Chengchou with approval and said, "The elder Ge is always prudent in doing things, and this is a very good idea. But who will be the governor of Shandong?"
Hong Chengchou, Chen Xinjia, and Li Daiwen were silent again. There was no suitable candidate for the three of them.
At present, there are several groups of thieves and bandits running rampant in Shandong, and there is endless chaos in various places. With a powerful commander like Liu Yan, he has become an invincible force. Hong Chengchou, Chen Xinjia, and Li Daiwen have been nominated, and those in the court will not be able to do anything. Will go.
Emperor Chongzhen's face was already dark and red at this time, and he said coldly: "If none of the three beauties have a suitable candidate, why not choose one of you three to temporarily take over the post of governor of Shandong!"
Hong Chengchou had a hundred thousand reluctances in his heart. Shandong was now a crater. With powerful subordinates like Liu Yan around, no one was willing to take charge of Shandong. And Emperor Chongzhen's intention was also very obvious, that is, he did not want to mobilize Liu Yan's troops to quell the rebellion, even if
For the transfer, one person must be arranged to be the governor of Shandong. This credit cannot be given to Liu Yan.
So Hong Chengchou thought for a moment, clasped his fists and said: "Your Majesty, I think the selection of the Governor of Shandong is of great importance, so it is better to select carefully. I am sure that Your Majesty will grant you some time, and I will search the government and the public to select a suitable candidate for Your Majesty."
Chen Xinjia and Li Daiwen agreed one after another. Emperor Chongzhen felt deeply powerless when he saw the attitude of the three people. The government had just improved, but suddenly deteriorated. As an emperor, he had no control at all. Could it be that Ming Dynasty really wanted to control it under his own control? Defeat at hand?
"Back off!"
Emperor Chongzhen leaned on his chair, spoke feebly, and then closed his eyes.
Hong Chengchou and the others bowed respectfully and then exited the imperial study.
Outside the palace gate, the sedans of the three people were waiting on the street. Li Daowen said hello and took a step forward, but Hong Chengchou stopped Chen Xinjia and said, "My soldier, what do you think about the Shandong matter? We still need to Tell me everything."
Chen Xinjia looked around and said, "Then, let's go to Mr. Ge's house?"
"haha okay."
Soon the two came to Hong Chengchou's house. In the main hall, Hong Chengchou said: "My soldiers, things in Shandong are difficult to handle. Although the thieves and bandits are not strong enough, as long as Liu Yan sends troops, they can be defeated in an instant. But what happens next? Liu Yan is now unblockable, and I should be able to tell that Your Majesty does not want to use Liu Yan."
Chen Xinjia said: "I can see it. But without Liu Yan, we can only mobilize troops from all over North Zhili. Your Majesty is not willing, so what else can we do? Can we mobilize troops from South Zhili, Xuzhou and other places?"
"No."
Hong Chengchou said: "Li Zi
The Chengdu troops have reappeared. Whether it is North Zhili or South Zhili, the garrison cannot be easily mobilized. You and I should think about who should go to governor Shandong. With a suitable candidate, His Majesty will be able to relax, and you, the Minister of War, can legitimately recruit Liu Yan to send troops. "
"It's difficult. Among the important ministers in the court, besides the elder, who else is qualified for this?"
Then Chen Xinjia said: "How about this? Miyun Town Tangtong, Shanhaiguan Town Ma Ke, or Cao Bianjiao, Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu and others can send troops. How about asking them to send troops to support Henan or Shandong?"
Hong Chengchou said: "No! Miyun Town, Shanhaiguan Town, as well as Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, and Cao Bianjiao cannot be moved. Although the slave thieves have withdrawn, they may go south at any time. These people's soldiers and horses are elite, and we must guard against the slave thieves. First priority.”
"Then there's nothing I can do."
Chen Xinjia spread his hands and said, "This won't work, and that won't work either. There's really no other way. Why don't we put this matter up for discussion and have a big discussion between the government and the opposition."
Hong Chengchou thought for a long time and said, "If your Majesty doesn't let go, this will be the end of it."
Two days later, Emperor Chongzhen held a court meeting in the Qianqing Palace. Hong Chengchou directly submitted the memorial and asked Emperor Chongzhen to appoint the governor of Shandong and mobilize troops to quell the bandits as soon as possible.
Previously, neither Hong Chengchou nor Chen Xinjia could communicate with Emperor Chongzhen. At this time, Emperor Chongzhen gritted his teeth and asked the ministers to discuss, and then glared at Hong Chengchou. Hong Chengchou had to lower his head. There was nothing he could do.
However, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty discussed it for a full hour, but no one was selected.
Zhang San proposed that Li Si be the governor of Shandong, and Li Si immediately recommended him.
Wang Wu, Wang Wu simply recommended Zhang San as the governor, and everyone was trying to make trouble. No one wanted to be the governor. Even if Emperor Chongzhen expressed his willingness to be promoted beyond his qualifications, it would be of no avail.
Even in the end, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel had a sudden idea and directly proposed that Yan Jizu, the governor of Shandong, serve as the governor concurrently. Emperor Chongzhen was so angry that he got angry on the spot and angrily accused the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel of being "unworthy of talent and virtue", and then walked away with a dark face.
The meeting ended hastily and everyone walked out of the hall. Chen Xinjia quickly followed Hong Chengchou and whispered: "Mr. Ge, what should we do now?"
"Let's discuss it again, we can only discuss it again."
"The Shandong thieves can't wait any longer!"
"Let's discuss it again, let's discuss it again."
Looking at Hong Chengchou striding away, Chen Xinjia felt that his eyes were filled with stars. The Minister of War staggered and almost fell to the ground.
