At the end of June, Beijing city.
In order to fully staff the newly-established National Defense Forces as soon as possible, Liu Yan ordered the establishment of recruitment points in various prefectures in Beizhili and Shandong to select good men from good families to join the army, giving priority to honest young men from the countryside, and taking into account coolies and other laboring youths in cities. strong.
At this time, soldiers from various armies of the National Defense Force were being transferred to various places in a steady stream, and the recruitment points in various places were also overcrowded. Tian Huixu, the Secretary of the Ministry of National Defense, had to order various prefectures and counties to send additional manpower to do their best to maintain order.
On the 30th, after Liu Yan petitioned Emperor Chongzhen, he handed over Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui to the Three Laws Division for joint trial. Shang Wenyuan, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, was the main one, and the Dali Temple and the Supervisory Office were the assistants. They were immediately arraigned.
In the lobby of the Ministry of Justice, Shang Wenyuan, Dali Temple Minister Shen Duyi and Shi Mingchong, the imperial censor of Zuodu, sat in the lobby. Shang Wenyuan was in the middle, and Shen Duyi and Shi Mingchong were on the left and right.
Shen Duyi, the minister of Dali Temple, was originally a famous "madman" in the court. He wandered around the fireworks alley in the capital all year round. However, after Liu Yan took charge of the government, he strictly restrained all the officials in the court. There was a big change, so Shen Duyi also restrained himself a lot, but he also accumulated a lot of dissatisfaction with Liu Yan in his heart, but he just didn't dare to express it.
Shi Mingchong is a well-known "bastard" in the court. As the censor of Zuodu of the Supervisory Council, he has no achievements in impeachment or supervision at all. He looks like a good guy to everyone he meets. It is precisely because of this that Shi Mingchong He was very popular in the court, and he was secure in his position as the censor of Zuodu.
Shang Wenyuan naturally knows who the two people next to him are, so Shang Wenyuan does not expect that the three courts will interrogate today.
The two of them can contribute, as long as they don't cause trouble for themselves.
Then Shang Wenyuan slapped the crowd and said loudly: "Bring someone to commit the crime!"
"Bring someone to commit the crime!"
After a while, Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui walked in with their hands and feet shackled.
"Who is in the hall?"
"Hong Chengchou."
"Wu Sangui."
Shang Wenyuan looked the two of them up and down, and saw that Hong Chengchou had long lost the rosy complexion and graceful demeanor he had before. He was so thin that he was out of shape, and his face was so haggard that it was almost unrecognizable.
Wu Sangui is no longer the "white man in the capital" he was before. Now his face is covered with stubble and he looks haggard, just like a farmer in the countryside.
"Is it true that the two of you led the elite troops from nine sides of the imperial court to garrison Xinzhou, but because the imperial court's food and salary were cut off, the army was defeated, and thus surrendered to the intruder Li Zicheng?"
Hong Chengchou nodded but did not speak.
Wu Sangui paused and said: "The bandit army of millions has been besieging Xinzhou for a long time. The imperial court has no reinforcements and no money or food. Governor Hong and I have no choice but to commit a crime other than war!"
Shang Wenyuan slapped the table directly and shouted: "Just answer yes or no. For other things, I haven't asked you, so don't talk nonsense!"
Wu Sangui showed anger, then nodded, but also said nothing.
Shang Wenyuan said coldly: "You are all the ones who lead the army in the war. When the imperial court entrusts the nine-sided army to you, you must know that there will be a danger of losing support. After all, the army is in danger and the battle is dangerous. You are leading the army on the first day. !”
"Where are Cao Bianjiao, Yang Guozhu, Tang Tong, Wang Tingchen, Zuo Guangxian, Liu Zhaoji and other generals? They all died fighting when the army was defeated! So no matter
Whatever merits and demerits they had during their lives, at least they had no debt in major matters! "
"And you two, in order to survive, directly surrendered to the intruder Li Zicheng, and you also held important positions in the bandit army. This is aiding the evildoers! For your own selfish gain, you worked with Li Zicheng to poison the world. Do you admit this serious crime? "
Hong Chengchou's face turned red at this time and he said loudly: "I once led the army to defeat the slave bandits in Liaodong and made great achievements for the Ming Dynasty. How can my name be wiped out just because of my defeat in one battle?"
Wu Sangui also shouted loudly: "My Wu family has been guarding Liaodong for the Ming Dynasty for a long time. Just because we were forced to surrender because of the defeat of Xinzhou, is the imperial court going to kill them all?"
Seeing Shang Wenyuan arguing with Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui at this time, Shen Duyi, the minister of Dali Temple, and Shi Mingchong, the censor of the left capital of the Inspectorate, all remained silent, and just watched quietly as Shang Wenyuan launched a counterattack.
"The Battle of Liaodong? Without Liu Ge, the current leader of the army, to lay the foundation for your army, how could you, Hong Chengchou, win the Battle of Liaodong!"
"Guarding Liaodong? Your Wu family is indeed leading troops in Liaodong, but the territory of Liaodong has been shrinking every year. Now that all the territory outside Shanhaiguan has been lost, how do you, the Wu family, defend the territory!"
Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui were speechless.
Shang Wenyuan continued to scold: "The battle in Xinzhou is indeed about the strong enemy and the weak. The nine-sided army has been cornered. This is indeed a crime other than war, but you surrendered directly! Even if you two are captured, the court will never Convene the Three Laws Division to put you two on trial."
"We are not three-year-old children. We all choose our own paths. Everyone has to pay the price for their choices, including you two.
people! "
Hearing this, Hong Chengchou smiled bitterly and said: "I don't think I, Hong Chengchou, am full of talent and knowledge, but have fallen into such a situation. I want to meet Mr. Liu Ge!"
Wu Sangui also said hurriedly: "I also want to see Mr. Liu Ge!"
Shang Wenyuan said: "I'm afraid you won't see Mr. Liu Ge anymore. Mr. Liu Ge has already left for Shandong to inspect and prepare for the establishment of a new navy in the Ming Dynasty. Before leaving, Mr. Liu Ge gave instructions to the Sanfa Division: Your Cases must be tried quickly, judged quickly, and handled quickly, without delay!”
Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui completely gave up after hearing this. Liu Yan had made it clear that he wanted to kill himself. Did Liu Yan not miss his comrades in Liaodong?
What Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui didn't know was that Liu Yan hated them deeply.
Historically, after Hong Chengchou surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, he followed Dorgon and led his army south to attack the Ming Dynasty. After the Qing army entered the customs, the slave chief Shunzhi also valued Hong Chengchou very much. He appointed Hong Chengchou as the Taibao of the Crown Prince, Shangshu of the Ministry of War and Yushi of the Right Capital of the Supervisory Academy with his original title when he was in the Ming Dynasty.
Later, Dorgon was worried about entering the Pass and going south. Hong Chengchou also said: "The south of the Yangtze River is dark and weak, and it can be decided by propaganda." He urged the Manchu Qing to go south to the south of the Yangtze River and fully occupy the land of China.
It can be said that after Hong Chengchou surrendered to the Manchus in history, he was a very qualified and good slave.
Needless to say, Wu Sangui single-handedly caused the Jiashen national disaster by offering sacrifices to Shanhaiguan and drawing the Qing troops into the customs. He was the chief culprit for the two hundred years of China’s fall and the smell of the disease.
According to Liu Yan's temper, he wished he could just drag the two of them out and execute them in Ling Chi. Now he convened the three law divisions for a trial.
It’s already a lot more restrained.
This fashionable literary garden looked at Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui who were in despair, and no longer paid attention to them. Instead, they said to Shen Duyi, the minister of Dali Temple, and Shi Mingchong, the censor of the left capital of the Inspectorate: "Two adults, what do you think?"
Shen Duyi smiled slightly, he was really quite graceful. No wonder he could walk among the "flowers" all year round, and said: "The case has been made clear, it is up to you to make the decision."
Shi Mingchong looked at Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui with regretful expressions on his face, and then said to Shang Wenyuan: "The case has been adjudicated, and I think it can be closed."
"Well!"
Shang Wenyuan immediately said loudly to Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui: "For the crime of treason you two committed, according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, you should be punished with lingchi! However, I thought that after all, you had fought for the Ming Dynasty, so I sentenced you two to beheading." Decide!"
After hearing the verdict, Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui's faces were ashen and they shouted loudly. Shang Wenyuan waved his hand directly: "Take him down and execute him immediately after His Majesty Zhu approves it!"
Later, Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui were taken away by several officials from the Ministry of Justice. Along the way, the two of them kept shouting loudly and felt very unwilling, but it was to no avail.
Shang Wenyuan then looked to the side and saw that the clerk next to him had already recorded the interrogation process one by one, and the clerk handed over the recorded case file.
Shang Wenyuan invited Shen Duyi, the minister of Dali Temple, and Shi Mingchong, the censor of Zuodu of the Inspectorate, to check the case file together. After confirming that it was correct, the three of them signed and sealed the case file one after another.
"good!"
Shang Wenyuan said: "Let's request your Majesty's decree together, and then send a fast horse to report to Mr. Ge."
when
On the same day, Shang Wenyuan, Shen Duyi, the Minister of Dali Temple, and Shi Mingchong, the censor of Zuodu of the Supervisory Academy, immediately entered the palace and submitted the case files of the three divisions to the Chongzhen Emperor.
After reading the case file, Emperor Chongzhen remained silent. Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui, whom he had given hope to, became traitors and served as military advisors and generals in the bandit army with the intention of destroying the Ming Dynasty. This was simply intolerable to Emperor Chongzhen. , even a former favorite!
"Behead and decide!"
Emperor Chongzhen said as he drew the imperial pen in his hand directly on the case file, and then slammed the case file on the table.
The three people from Shang Wenyuan did not dare to say anything when they saw this. They took the case file directly to the Cabinet Office, where the cabinet ministers discussed and drafted the decree and executed it with a seal.
The next day, Hong Chengchou, Wu Sangui and thousands of bandit prisoners were escorted outside the Meridian Gate and executed by soldiers of the Sixth Army of the National Defense Force (formerly the New Army Guards Battalion) who were being reorganized.
After hearing the news, the people in Beijing rushed over. At least thousands of people surrounded the execution ground. They witnessed with their own eyes the scene of thousands of bandit prisoners such as Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui being beheaded. They kept cheering and threw hurls at the prisoners. All kinds of debris, roaring, yelling and cursing can be heard endlessly.
North Zhili belongs to Hejian Prefecture and Renqiu County.
Liu Yan, escorted by a general force of the Sixth Army of the National Defense Forces led by Miao Shao, marched towards Shandong via Renqiu County.
"Mr. Ge, urgent report from the capital!"
Liu Yan rode his horse slowly, but Miao Shao handed over the urgent report. After reading it, he sighed and said: "Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui are in trouble!"
Miao Shao said coldly: "These two thieves have openly surrendered to the enemy. It would be a shame not to die!"
Liu Yan nodded and said, "Li Chuang's matter has been resolved."
Now that it has come to an end, the next step is how to clean up the old mountains and rivers, and how to effectively implement the New Deal and military reforms. We still have a long way to go, and we must continue to work hard! "
Miao Shao asked: "Why did Mr. Ge suddenly go to Lingshanwei's shipyard? I remember that the shipyard has been built long ago. Are you going to place an order for shipbuilding now?"
Liu Yan nodded and said: "I want to build a new navy. From training to warships, it must be different from the previous Ming Navy!"
Miao Shao asked: "Water Maker? Who is Mr. Ge planning to fight?"
Liu Yan said: "If you want to implement the New Deal and military reforms in Jiangnan, you will have to conflict with the forces in the south. Although we have the righteousness of the court in our hands, Zheng Zhilong and other military leaders in the south will not obediently hand over their military power and let them The imperial court reorganized it, so the imperial court must have a naval force that can fight!"
