The situation of the Chongzhen Dynasty can be said to be very optimistic.
The Ming army had already advanced and camped eighty miles outside Shanhaiguan, with military flags flying to the sky. They only waited for an order to attack Shanhaiguan.
After the feat of using the heads of thousands of Tatars as a spectacle, some soldiers of the Chongzhen Dynasty who were originally extremely afraid of the Manchus gradually diluted their inner fears and dared to approach in formation together with their predecessors from the Jiajing and Hongwu dynasties. Shanhaiguan.
Therefore, the number of Ming troops outside Shanhaiguan has reached an extremely terrifying level.
The Eight Banners Army that was plundering Shandong and Shanxi had also been "predicted" to operate early, and was blocked by Huang Degong and Jiang Quan, and was in a fierce battle.
Faced with such a situation, even Chongzhen Emperor Zhu Youjian couldn't help but shout "I am invincible tomorrow" in front of the red cannon on the tower.
In the military tent on the front line, Zhu Houcong closed his eyes and meditated. Outside the tent, the sky was full of glow. Zhu Houcong quietly closed his eyes and breathed in, absorbing the aura of the sunset.
About half an hour later, Zhu Houcong slowly opened his eyes, feeling the changes in the breath in his dantian, and shook his head again after a long time.
Spiritual energy is too thin.
But after all, this is not a world of cultivating immortals. Being able to prolong life and live to a hundred years is already a rare thing, and Zhu Houcong does not expect to become an immortal like those in the novels about cultivating immortals.
He secretly calculated the weather and immediately issued an order: "Let all the generals come to see me!"
"yes!"
The Jin Yiwei who were serving Zhu Houcong immediately accepted the order, and not long after, the generals arrived at Zhu Houcong's tent, instantly crowding the originally spacious military tent.
"Wu Xiang."
After everyone shouted long live, Zhu Houcong also pointed out the name without politeness: "How is the reply from Shanhaiguan? Is it true that General Ning is concerned, or is he willing to be a lackey for the establishment of a slave?"
Wu Xiang hurriedly bowed down and said: "Your Majesty, my traitor is very strict in running the army. Now there are only seven hundred households and three thousand households who have responded, willing to be internal responders. The rest of the generals are a little wavering and I don't know what they are going to do."
Zhu Houcong had no expression on his face, and then asked: "How about the casting of flintlock muskets and cannons?"
"Your Majesty, due to the urgent need for raw materials in the past few days, more than 3,200 firearms and several artillery pieces have been sent to the front line to form an artillery array."
Hao Yaoqi said respectfully to Zhu Houcong: "As long as you give an order, the artillery can attack the city!"
Zhu Houcong nodded.
Shanhaiguan is a famous pass in the world. If you want to attack it by force, you will pay a high price.
If the artillery bombardments are still ineffective, then Zhu Houcong can only choose to fight with the trapped beast.
Zhu Houcong had ordered five thousand fine cavalry to cross the city wall from other passes, harass Liaodong, and cut off Dorgon's grain route.
However, this would take a lot of time, and I don’t know how much time was wasted here.
At this moment, a sonorous and powerful voice suddenly came to Zhu Houcong's ears: "The last general, Zhang Zhongguo, defeated the bandits with Generals Lu and Sun, and fought fiercely with General Cao against Jiannu, and fought against Generals Guan Ning. If you are familiar with it, I would like to serve as a secret envoy to meet you at the gate and urge the generals to change their ways!"
Zhu Houcong followed the sound and saw a man with thick eyebrows and big eyes standing at the end of the team. He was wearing armor and speaking loudly and clasped his fists.
It seems that he is a special general in the Chongzhen capital camp.
"good!"
When Zhu Houcong heard this, he nodded heavily, and then said: "This trip is dangerous, my dear, do you have any instructions?"
Zhang Zhongguo continued: "If the general dies, I hope that your majesty will take care of my mother at home! I still have two sons who are willing to join the army, serve the Ming Dynasty, and complete the tasks that I have not completed!"
"It is passed down that Zhang's mother is knowledgeable about books and principles. She is noble and thrifty. She follows the rules without slacking off. She obeys the rituals of the teapot and teaches her children well. She has a harmonious and harmonious conduct. She is a kindhearted person. Immediately upon signing, she canonizes Shuren, who has been ordered by heaven. I admire this!"
Zhu Houcong did not hesitate and went on to say: "Zhang Zhongguo is appointed as the commander-in-chief, and he is hereditary; the second son of Zhang Zhongguo is appointed as the hereditary hundred households!"
"General, I would like to thank my emperor. May your Majesty live forever and the Ming Dynasty live forever!"
Zhang Zhongguo was overjoyed and quickly thanked Tianen.
Zhu Houcong also did not hesitate to reward him.
If Zhang Zhongguo could really persuade the generals of the Guan Ning Army in Shanhaiguan, how many deaths of soldiers could be avoided? If this is the case, my reward is quite small!
"Wu Sanfu, the son of an old minister, is willing to lead the way for General Zhang!"
Wu Xiang hurriedly said: "The old minister still has a close confidant in the city who can help General Zhang enter the city!"
It was a dark and windy night. Under the leadership of Wu Sanfu, Zhang Zhongguo bypassed the warning and came to the city. Through the guidance of the internal police in the city, he entered Shanhaiguan.
After returning to the most powerful pass in the world, Zhang Zhongguo felt a little excited, but he still did not forget his mission. He immediately followed the internal guidance and walked towards the camp of the generals of the Guan Ning Army. .
Zhang Zhongguo's admonition was very successful.
All the generals who heard Zhang Zhongguo's statement that the army would attack the city in the next few days were shocked and responded.
After all, on the one hand, they were dissatisfied with the Manchus.
They have always been the front line of resistance against the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Although they have been defeated repeatedly, they have also been defeated repeatedly and do not feel that it is against the Eight Banners.
On the other hand, the Ming army achieved remarkable results. The entire 30,000 vanguard army was wiped out, while the Ming army's casualties were less than one-thirtieth. This casualty ratio naturally made the generals of Guan Ning's army fearful.
In particular, they heard that the ancestors of the Ming Dynasty rushed to help, which made them murmur in their hearts.
Most of those who were able to join the army as generals came from general families, and each had their ancestors during the Hongwu, Yongle and Jiajing years.
They don't have to care about anything else, but their ancestors still have to care.
But when Zhang Zhongguo came out of the camp of a partial general, he ran into hundreds of torches and Wu Sangui who was leading the team.
"Um?"
Zhang Zhongguo secretly said something bad, but at this moment, Wu Sangui said with a long smile: "Isn't this Zhang Xin and Zhang Zhongguo who went to Beijing to have a great future? Now that he is back, he wants to serve me, the Qing Dynasty?"
"Pooh!"
Zhang Zhongguo's eyes widened with anger, and he spat a thick mouthful of phlegm on Wu Sangui's face, and cursed: "Wu Sangui, you are an ungrateful, traitorous person seeking glory! I, Zhang, would rather die than be with you! Your father and your brother , I wish I could eat your flesh and sleep on your skin!"
"Pull it down and tell the regent!"
Wu Sangui's expression was very angry, but he still suppressed it and said angrily: "Write down the names of all the generals he has visited, and call them together to the regent!"
…
Under the bright lights, Dorgon, who had not slept for two days and two nights, was sitting in front of the big seat. Listening to Wu Sangui's description, he felt very headache.
This person involved more than 40 Han generals.
If they are all cut off, people's hearts will definitely be upset.
But now that the army is pressing down on the territory, naturally they cannot do such a thing!
What should we do?
Suddenly, Dorgon saw the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" lying next to him, and for a moment he remembered Cao Cao's calculations when he defeated Yuan Shao. He couldn't help but laugh and said: "Push that Ming general over here!"
After scolding him in public, he beheaded him, and then announced that regardless of whether he rebelled or not, he would forget all the blame for these forty generals. He hoped that by working together, he would be crowned a marquis and prime minister in the future. Wouldn't it be nice?
Not long after, two Eight Banners soldiers in white armor pushed the bound Zhang Zhongguo over.
But before Dorgon could ask any questions, Zhang Zhongguo was already laughing.
"Hahaha!"
On the high platform, there were forty or fifty Han generals, twice as many as the Man generals!
Kong Youde frowned and scolded sternly: "You're a wise general, why are you laughing? Could it be that you're going crazy when death is imminent?"
"I'll wait for you!"
Zhang Zhongguo's eyes were like sharp swords as he scanned the Han generals present, such as Wu Sangui, Fan Wencheng, Hong Chengchou and Geng Zhongming. He laughed again and then said: "I laugh at you and other traitor lackeys. They are all servile and flattering!"
Zhang Zhongguo's words were like a blow to the head, causing many Han generals present to lower their heads and not dare to look at Zhang Zhongguo. However, Wu Sangui, Fan Wencheng and other top traitors frowned, wishing to behead Zhang Zhongguo on the spot!
Dorgon also realized that something was wrong. Although he admired the hero like in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", this hero seemed to arouse the honor, disgrace and fighting spirit of the generals present, and then shouted: "Push out and kill quickly! "
"You traitor lackeys, how can you have the face to meet your ancestors?!"
Zhang Zhongguo laughed loudly, and then shouted loudly, his voice so bold that it almost spread throughout the entire venue.
"Stop his mouth!"
Many Han generals clenched their fists, and there was an inexplicable chill in the air.
There was a subtlety between the Manchu generals and General Guan Ning.
It was originally a siege, and the morale of the army was unstable. Now that they heard such remarks, the middle and low-level generals of the Han army became more alert.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, his status remained unchanged.
In the Qing Dynasty, if you were a slave, you would be criticized by your ancestors.
In this case, it is better to take a chance on wealth!
And Dorgon also knew very well that his operation not only failed to win over people like Cao Cao, but also messed up and had the opposite effect.
In this tense and subtle atmosphere, Fan Wencheng suddenly laughed loudly and said: "Why are you so serious? When Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, came to dominate the Central Plains, he could not do without the help of the Han princes in the Central Plains." Confucius said: If the barbarians enter China, they will be conquered by China; if the barbarians enter China, they will be conquered by the barbarians. Now my Majesty the Qing Dynasty is modestly Sinicizing, and after entering the customs, he is determined to develop Chinese learning. This is completely in line with Confucius' words!"
"Furthermore, the "Three Dynasties Northern League Conference" clearly states that our royal family of the Qing Dynasty and the Han people share the same ancestor, Shennong. Why should you listen to the theory of the tyrant Zhu Ming?"
Hearing Fan Wencheng's words, Hong Chengchou on the side also spoke up and echoed. This subtle atmosphere is still there, but it has relaxed a lot.
Dorgon opened his mouth and was about to say a few words, when suddenly there was a commotion outside the tent.
"what happened?"
Dorgon was shocked and asked quickly.
At this moment, a white-armored Eight Banners soldier hurried over and said hurriedly to Dorgon: "Report to the regent, Guan Ning's troops made a rebellion and kidnapped the Ming general. Now there is a fire everywhere! There is already a fire outside! It’s a mess!”
"Quickly suppress it, guard the city strictly, don't let the Ming army take advantage of the loopholes!"
…
The moment the chaos broke out in Shanhaiguan, Zhu Houcong was keenly aware of the situation, so without any hesitation, Zhu Houcong immediately ordered: "Send the order to all armies to attack the city and kill!"
The soldiers who had prepared early were activated instantly. In an instant, nearly a hundred artillery pieces were activated, roaring towards Shanhaiguan together!
"Boom boom——!!!"
The artillery fired in unison, and under the roar of artillery, Zhu Houcong launched a general attack:
"The one who takes the flag first will be rewarded five thousand gold! The one who kills Dorgon will be granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Houses!"
