Tongzhou.
After the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Tongzhou owned four counties: Sanhe, Wuqing, Xianghe and Miao counties, which belonged to Beiping Prefecture. In the first month of the first year of Yongle, the imperial court designated Peking as Beijing and changed the name of Beiping Mansion to Shuntian Mansion. After that, Tongzhou and the four counties under its jurisdiction belonged to Shuntian Prefecture.
Liu Yan led the guard battalion, cavalry battalion, and artillery battalion to be stationed in Tongzhou City, which was connected to the Grand Canal. Shandong's money and grain could be transported to Tongzhou by water, saving a lot of money and grain consumption.
In the blink of an eye, in the middle of the first month, Wu Guojin hurried to the Zhizhou Yamen in the city and handed Liu Yan a piece of news collected by the Intelligence Department.
"Supervisor, Li Zicheng led his army to capture Xinzhou City. Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui surrendered. Liu Zhaoji, Tang Tong, Wang Tingchen, and Zuo Guangxian died in the battle!"
"In addition, Wang Pu and Li Fuming also surrendered to Li Zicheng not long ago. It is said that Hong Chengchou persuaded them."
Liu Yan's eyes suddenly widened and he asked, "Is the information reliable?"
Wu Guojin nodded and said: "It's reliable. It's the news that Wang Yang, the head of the investigation team, brought a whistle into Shanxi to find out."
Nowadays, as Liu Yan's power continues to expand, the Intelligence Department has also expanded its manpower on a large scale. Detective Cao has also specially formed more than a dozen teams of elite sentries, specifically used to detect news and intelligence on the battlefield and within enemy territory.
Liu Yan frowned and thought to himself: Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui were really just outsiders. Even if he changed history, they did not seek refuge with the Manchu Qing Dynasty as in history, but they also sought refuge with Li Zicheng.
"Wang Pu and Li Fuming are okay, but Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui are both capable people. Li Zicheng has the help of them, which makes it even more difficult to deal with."
Wu Guojin said: "Supervisor, according to the intelligence,
, Li Zicheng is reorganizing the army. With Hong Chengchou's help, the combat power of the bandit tribes will increase quickly. We don't have much time. "
Liu Yan nodded in agreement, and then said: "Send this news to the capital immediately."
Wu Guojin said in surprise: "Sent to the capital? Why?"
Liu Yan said with a smile: "Wang Pu and Li Fuming surrendered to the bandits, the whole of Shanxi fell, and the northwest and central plains of the Ming Dynasty were all occupied by Li Zicheng. In such a situation, your Majesty and the ministers of the DPRK will definitely not be able to sit still. It won't be long before your Majesty. He will think of a way for us to send troops to encircle and suppress Li Zicheng, and then it will be an opportunity, an opportunity for the governor to rectify the court!"
Wu Guojin's eyes suddenly gleamed, and he immediately accepted the order and retreated.
Two days later, Emperor Chongzhen looked at the information sent by Liu Yan and roared in disbelief: "Hong Chengchou must have died in the battle. He must have died. How could he surrender to the bandits? Impossible!"
Wang Chengen stood aside with a pale face. Hong Chengchou, Wu Sangui, Wang Pu, and Li Fuming surrendered. Tang Tong, Zuo Guangxian, Liu Zhaoji, and Wang Tingchen died in the battle. Hundreds of thousands of elites from all sides were wiped out. There was no hope for Ming Dynasty. After Li Zicheng was defeated, Liu Yan took control of the government. The court no longer had a loyal mobile force to call upon!
At this time, Chen Xinjia was thinking the same thing, and he was full of sadness. He heard Emperor Chongzhen's roar in his ears, and he didn't know how to answer, so he could only let Emperor Chongzhen roar in front.
After venting for a long time, Emperor Chongzhen finally sat down and said, "Why can't Hong Chengchou die? Why should he surrender?"
Seeing that Emperor Chongzhen calmed down, Chen Xinjia raised his hands and said:
"Your Majesty, it's time to relax with Liu Yan."
Emperor Chongzhen slammed the table and angrily said: "Relax? How else can I moderate! Liu Yan has been forcing me, but if it doesn't work, just let him do this dragon chair!"
"Your Majesty, calm down!"
Chen Xinjia said earnestly: "Your Majesty, this information was sent by Liu Yan, which means that Liu Yan wants to collude with the imperial court. Now all the passes in Beizhili are occupied by Liu Yan's troops. If Liu Yan really has Yixin, now that his troops have already entered Beijing, why are they still staying in Tongzhou?"
"Liu Yan was worried that the central government would be unstable and would make the same mistake as Hong Chengchou, so he took this strategy and wanted to stabilize the rear of the army by supporting troops and holding the court hostage."
Emperor Chongzhen said coldly: "What if this isn't a powerful minister? Is he still a loyal minister?"
Chen Xinjia bravely said: "Your Majesty, let me tell you something: In today's current situation, only powerful ministers can calm the world. Ordinary ministers no longer have the ability to turn the tide!"
"Turn the tide?"
Emperor Chongzhen sat down with a wry smile and said: "I am issuing an edict to let Liu Yan lead an army to conquer Li Zicheng's rebellion. He will smash pots and sell iron in the court to raise money and food. In addition, Ai Qing will go to Tongzhou to see if Liu Yan has any other requests."
Chen Xinjia breathed a sigh of relief. Emperor Chongzhen finally compromised and accepted the decree immediately.
At this time, the cabinet has basically fallen into a state of semi-paralysis, and the remaining cabinet ministers have little enthusiasm. After all, the Ming Dynasty has already reached sunset. Everyone can see that even if they work hard, there will be no future. ?
Chen Xinjia came to the court room and waited for the edict to be drafted before he was ready
Be prepared to go directly to Tongzhou to meet Liu Yan.
However, Chen Xinjia didn't wait left or right. He waited in the court room for a full hour, but a young eunuch from the inner court came.
"Haha, Mr. Chen is still waiting here? Why don't Mr. Chen go back first? When the edict is drafted, the Za family will send someone to inform him. How about that?"
Chen Xinjia asked in surprise: "What, is there something wrong with the edict?"
"The cabinet ministers are discussing the wording of the edict. Please be patient, Mr. Chen, and go back to wait for news."
Upon seeing this, Chen Xinjia paused and said: "The country is in such crisis, and the ministers are still delaying like this. The Ming Dynasty is in danger!"
Say it, Chen Xinjia walked away.
At this time, several cabinet ministers were arguing about something in the cabinet court room. One of them was Jiang Dejing, the new Minister of Household Affairs and a bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion. This man was good at managing finances and military affairs. In history, he had violated Yan Jin's advice and angered Chongzhen. He was dismissed from office as the emperor, and he was considered to be one of the few practical ministers in the court at the moment.
One person was Cheng Jiming, who was serving as the transitional chief assistant at this time and lived several years longer than in history. However, his son Cheng Kegong was an out-and-out traitor. Historically, he directly defected to the Manchu Qing Dynasty and served as a bachelor of the Manchu Qing Secretariat. This has also become a sore point for many courtiers to criticize Cheng Ji's fate.
There was also Xiong Mingyu, who was the Minister of the Ministry of Industry at this time and had the worst temper among the three.
The three of them were all members of the Donglin Party. After receiving Emperor Chongzhen's oral edict, they gathered together to discuss how to formulate the edict.
Xiong Mingyu said loudly: "Your Majesty is humiliated, and I should die to apologize! Liu Yan sent troops to oppress the king, but you still draft this edict. Have you all forgotten Donglin's righteousness?"
Jiang Dejing said: "Under the current situation, only Liu Yan's tribe can defeat Li Zicheng, and there is nothing your Majesty can do."
Cheng Jiming said: "Yes, Liu Yan must be allowed to lead the army to attack as soon as possible. Li Zicheng cannot be allowed to grow stronger. This edict should be issued."
"No!"
Xiong Mingyu said righteously: "Our cabinet has the power to reject His Majesty's edict. This edict cannot be issued. Liu Yan must be allowed to return to Beijing to apologize for his crime. After the Three Laws Division discusses the crime and punishes him, he will be ordered to perform meritorious service. , leading the army to fight against Li Zicheng, this is the bottom line and cannot be discussed!"
Cheng Jiming smiled bitterly and said: "Let's not talk about whether Liu Yan can be allowed to return to Beijing to apologize. How long will it take to complete this process? It is estimated that Li Zicheng led his army to the city of Beijing!"
"No means no!"
Xiong Mingyu said: "I will go to His Majesty to tell you about this matter, and I must ask His Majesty to take back his life!"
When Cheng Jiming saw Xiong Mingyu getting up and leaving, he hurriedly held him back and said, "Don't be impulsive. Your Majesty's edict is also an opportunity for the court and Liu Yan to get in touch. Otherwise, Liu Yan will now occupy Beizhi You all know how dangerous this situation is, and we can't let it go on like this!"
Xiong Mingyu said loudly: "I think you are just frightened by Liu Yan's military might. If Lu Xiangsheng is still alive, he will definitely lead his army to capture Liu Yan. Now that Liu Yan is acting so rebelliously, I don't know that Lu Xiangsheng is behind Jiuquan." Next, what will you think?"
Lu Xiangsheng, Chen Xinjia, and Sun Chengzong are actually members of the Donglin Party, but the three of them are at the forefront of turning the tide. Lu Xiangsheng
Both Sheng and Sun Chengzong fought for the Ming Dynasty, and Chen Xinjia also worked hard to save the current situation. The actions of the three were incompatible with most Donglin Party members, and were not accepted by most Donglin Party members. Even Still being squeezed out everywhere.
Jiang Dejing and Cheng Jiming looked at each other. Seeing that they couldn't persuade Xiong Mingyu, they had no choice but to let it go.
In the imperial study room, after Xiong Mingyu made the report, Emperor Chongzhen's face turned dark and ugly. Wang Chengen on the side was also surprised. He didn't know what these civil servants were thinking. Just follow His Majesty's orders directly. How can there be so many thing?
"His Majesty?"
When Xiong Ming met Emperor Chongzhen and remained silent, he gave a tentative shout, but was suddenly hit on the head by something. He looked closely and saw several memorials.
"Does it mean that my will cannot even leave the Forbidden City?"
Emperor Chongzhen said angrily: "I asked the cabinet to draft a decree, why don't you do it? Why don't you do it!"
Xiong Mingyu said loudly: "I am loyal, please Your Majesty..."
Emperor Chongzhen shouted directly: "Go and draft the decree immediately, and hand it over to Chen Xinjia to deliver it today. If there is any further delay, you will get out of the cabinet!"
Xiong Mingyu was dumbfounded, and then returned to the cabinet room in despair. When Jiang Dejing and Cheng Jiming saw this, they naturally knew the result. Neither of them spoke, but they just drafted what they had just said after Xiong Mingyu left. The edict was handed to Xiong Mingyu for review.
Xiong Mingyu was no longer in the mood to read the content. He just glanced at it, nodded, sat aside and sighed.
"this?"
Jiang Dejing looked at Cheng Jiming and said, "Then the edict will be issued now?"
"
send out! "
Cheng Jiming said: "Immediately send someone to Chen Xinjia's hands. The rest of the matter has nothing to do with us."
"good."
It was not until dusk that Chen Xinjia received the edict, and then he prepared his carriage and horses to leave the city and rushed towards Tongzhou in the cold wind.
