In the second and third months of the first year of Chongzhen, the rebel Liu Zhaosun led hundreds of thousands of Manchu, Mongolian and Korean allied forces to defeat more than 70 cities in central Liaoning and western Liaoning.
The capital, six hundred miles away from Shanhaiguan, was already under threat from the Kaiyuan Army. The Forbidden City was in panic. On March 12, Zhu Youxiao declared martial law in the capital.
Wang Zaijin cannot absolve himself of the blame for this situation.
He was not only the manager of Liaodong, but also the governor of Jiliao. Broadly speaking, the entire Shuntian Prefecture outside the capital was within his defense zone.
Therefore, theoretically speaking, whether Liu thief breaks through Shanhaiguan or Longjing Pass (Jizhou), Wang Jinglue must be responsible for the result.
Not long ago, Wang Shu, Emperor Chongzhen of Jin Dynasty, summarized the battle of Shanhaiguan. One of the paragraphs reads:
"In the past three years, all the soldiers in the world have not dared to fight with Liu Thief, and they have joined forces to fight. Now they are fighting with swords and spears. I don't know how fierce and fierce Liu Thief is. Fortunately, with the blessing of the Holy Emperor, the nine-sided army hates this thief, and now In a battle at Shanhaiguan, corpses were everywhere, and the Liu thief was defeated..."
When Wang Zaijin sent this good news, he also sent a thousand "Kaiyuan Thief Heads" captured by the Ming Army to the Ministry of War for verification. After verification, the head of the Ministry of War said: "The goods are genuine, and every one of them is the head of a thief."
No matter how exciting the victory news is, no matter how "genuine and honest" the head of the Liu thief is, the capital is already under the threat of Liu Zhaosun.
As the pressure on the capital's defense increased day by day, Emperor Chongzhen had begun to be dissatisfied with the Liaodong economic strategy. There were rumors that Zhu Youxiao was preparing to replace Wang Zaijin and might even imprison Wang Jinglue.
Just like Zhu Youjian dealt with Yuan Chonghuan in history, Zhu Youxiao is now gradually becoming murderous towards Wang Zaijin.
As long as the capital is besieged, it is conceivable that this unlucky Liaodong manager may also face the fate of being cut into pieces and eaten by the people of the capital.
Wang Zaijin knew this very well, so he left a way out for himself early. If there was a change in the capital, he would immediately defect to the Tian Khan outside Shanhaiguan.
On March 16, the first year of Chongzhen, Cheng Ji (also known as Jingzhi, a great celebrity in Beizhi), who had just joined the cabinet, strongly recommended Sun Chengzong, the cabinet minister, to the emperor as the Minister of the Ministry of War and the Grand Bachelor of Zhongji Palace to supervise the administration. Soldiers, horses, money and food were stationed in Tongzhou to control the eastern border of the capital and ensure the safety of the capital.
Emperor Zhu Youxiao accepted this recommendation and specially summoned Sun Chengzong, who had just taken office, to discuss with him the capital's defense plan.
Sun Chengzong is a veteran of three dynasties. He has served three emperors, Wanli, Taichang and Tianqi. He has experienced many wars and is currently one of the few ministers in Zhu Youxiao's hands who knows about Liao affairs.
By the way, this man was the teacher of Emperor Chongzhen.
In the third year of Taichang, Sun Chengzong assisted Wang Huazhen in building the 200-mile defense line of Ningjin and made outstanding achievements. Later, he was attacked by Wei Zhongxian and resigned and returned to his hometown.
He had different views on Wang Zaijin's passive deployment of too narrow the defense line on the periphery of the capital.
On March 20th of the first year of Chongzhen, Li Tiran, the North Korean Chaotian official, was appointed by Marquis Pingliao. He passed through Qian'an and Tongzhou from Shanhaiguan and entered the capital from Zuo'anmen. He submitted a letter to the Supervisor of Liturgy and the Sixth Ministry and formally submitted the peace treaty provisions to the Ming Dynasty.
The ruling and opposition parties were shocked.
What shocked Zhu Youxiao and his ministers was not Liu Zhaosun's bold overstep, his arrogant demands such as giving up control of Korea, recognizing Liaodong's independent status, and opening Dengzhou as a treaty port, but the fact that this foreign envoy from Shanhaiguan to the capital unexpectedly Can flow unimpeded.
It can be seen that the defense of the Ming army in Jizhou, Shunyi and Sanhe is equivalent to a false defense.
Zhu Youxiao urgently summoned Sun Chengzong in Qianqing Palace.
Fifty-eight-year-old Sun Chengzong has white beard and hair, but he walks as fast as flying.
"Eunuch Xu, why is Your Majesty so anxious?"
Xu Xianchun supported Sun Chengzong as he walked through the dark corridor of Qianqing Palace, fearing that the elderly minister would fall to the ground.
"What's the matter? It's not Liu's business! The man who killed a thousand swords sent a Korean to the capital."
Sun Chengzong had heard about this before entering the palace. He knew that Xu Xianchun had sharp ears and eyes and was well-informed, so he deliberately pretended not to know in front of him.
"Oh? Not only did Wang Jinglue defeat the Liu thieves last month, but I heard that he also wounded Liu Zhaosun himself with a Hongyi cannon. He must be here to seek peace this time!"
When Xu Xianchun heard what Sun Chengzong said, he quickly glanced around and said in a low voice:
"Wang Zai Jin's report of victory, Lord Sun also believed it? What a great victory, what a bullshit victory. Our family sent people to the Ministry of War to check, and there was not a single slave head! That old guy Wang Zai Jin was afraid that he had surrendered to Liu Zhaosun, so the two traitors joined forces. Deceiving the emperor!"
The more Xu Xianchun talked, the more excited he became. He pulled Sun Chengzong aside and said in a trembling voice:
"Master Sun, let me tell you the truth. This Chaotian official named Li Heran is not here to sue for peace. He is here to threaten the emperor! Liu Zhaosun wants to occupy the outside of the pass. He wants Liaodong and Liaoxi, and he also wants to I want the Emperor to kill our family! Mr. Sun, when you see the Emperor later, you have to talk about our family, and you must not let Thief Liu succeed!"
Xu Xianchun began to cry when he finished speaking. Sun Chengzong didn't know whether the eunuch was really crying or was acting. He felt a burst of laughter in his heart. He didn't expect that Xu Xianchun was so afraid of Pingliao Hou. If he had known this, why would he provoke him in the first place.
Sun Chengzong looked upright, stepped forward and held the factory master's big hand tightly, comforting Mr. Xu:
"Mr. Factory, please don't worry. I know what to say. Thief Liu wants to invade Shenjing and sign a city alliance with the emperor. That's all a dream."
While the two were talking, they had arrived at the Huangji Palace of Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youxiao sat alone on the dragon throne, his thin figure looking quite tired.
His eyes were sunken, with two dark circles under his eyes, and his hair on the temples was completely white. He didn't look like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy at all.
Since Zhu Youxiao succeeded to the throne, in just three months, the Liao Dynasty has been corrupted, and the power of the Ming Dynasty has been in decline. Not to mention compared to his grandfather, Emperor Wanli, even compared to his father, Emperor Huangtai Chang, it can be said that he is inferior every day. Day.
There are rumors that Zhu Youxiao liked to do carpentry work when he was in the East Palace. It should be pointed out that these rumors are not rumors, they are all true.
In the Yuan and Ming dynasties, Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youxiao was not the only emperor who liked handicrafts. For example, Emperor Yuan Shun of the previous dynasty was also a senior craftsman.
It's a pity that in troubled times, as a noble of the Ninth Five-Year Plan, any hobby that is not related to the imperial hegemony will be called absurd, just like Li Yu, the later master of the Southern Tang Dynasty, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, and Emperor Yuan Shun of the previous dynasty. Later generations laughed at him.
In order to deal with Liu Zhaosun, Emperor Chongzhen tried his best.
Three months after taking the throne, under the advice of the Donglin Party members such as Huang Liji, the chief minister of the cabinet, and Han Kuang, the assistant minister, the young Zhu Youxiao left the three million taels left to him by his grandfather and father. All the money was squandered, and most of it was used to pay Liao salaries and support the ancestral family in western Liaoning. In the words of Donglin Party members, "Liao people defend Liao soil." Zhu Youxiao also believed that as long as Zu Dashou was fed, he would be able to kill the enemy with all his strength and stop the expansion of Liu Thief.
However, things went against expectations. Now that Zu Dashou was killed and all of western Liaoning was occupied by Liu Zhaosun, the imperial court's influence outside Shanhaiguan became weaker and weaker.
Not to mention that Liu Thief is just one of the many troublemakers in various places.
Just when Kaiyuan's troops came to Shanhaiguan, civil uprisings occurred in Shaanxi and chieftains in Chongqing rebelled in various parts of the Ming Dynasty.
Taking the southwest as an example, the Baigan soldiers suffered all casualties, and the Sichuan and Guizhou Ming armies were defeated again and again. It is estimated that it will take some time for She Chongming to occupy Chengdu and join forces with the Yunnan chieftains.
Zhu Youxiao's gray eyes suddenly lit up when he saw Sun Chengzong coming over.
After Sun Chengzong finished saluting, the two sides exchanged a few words. Xu Xianchun stood beside him silently. Emperor Chongzhen didn't waste any words and asked straight to the point:
"From Shanhaiguan to the capital, the defense is riddled with holes and there is no preparation! How will Sun Qing prepare for me?"
Sun Chengzong coughed slightly and motioned for the idlers to stay away. Zhu Youxiao quickly asked Xu Xianchun and the two palace maids to retreat, leaving only a young eunuch named Wang Chengen standing at the entrance of the hall.
"I heard that the king is stationed in Sanhaiguan, Zhumei in Shunyi, and Hou Shilu in Sanhe. This is a good strategy. The three armies serve as horns for each other to prevent Liu's raids. However, I heard that it seems inappropriate to transfer Hou Shilu to Tongzhou."
Zhu Youxiao asked: "Does Sun Qing mean to guard Sanhe?"
Sun Chengzong picked up the tea cup on the desk, took a careful sip, and then said:
"Back to the emperor, guarding the Three Rivers can stop the enemy from running westward and stop the Liu bandits from going south."
Both the monarch and his ministers knew that most of the kings in Jin had defected to Liu Zhaosun, and the existence of Shanhaiguan was of little significance.
Considering that the Liu bandits have formed an alliance with the Mongolian Horqin and Karaqin tribes and can break through the border from the east and north to threaten the capital, in addition to strengthening the defense in the direction of Shanhaiguan, the weak Jizhen defense line also needs to be further strengthened.
Sanhe is located between Jizhou and Tongzhou. Defending Sanhe can thwart the enemy's attempt to invade Tongzhou and approach the capital. It can also prevent Kaiyuan's army from going south to Xianghe and Wuqing to outflank the southern flank of the capital.
"I heard that the Jiuzhen Commander-in-Chief Man Gui refused to send troops due to illness this time. This man is an old acquaintance of Liu Zhaosun. It is really hateful!"
Sun Chengzong waited for Chongzhen to finish speaking before he cautiously said:
"Your Majesty, you must not touch Man Gui lightly at this time. After the battle, the soldiers suffered heavy casualties, so you must not use your troops lightly again!"
"When the emperor is in urgent need, he will not care about the lives of the soldiers and leave them hungry and cold. This may not be a complete strategy."
Seeing Zhu Youxiao's solemn gaze, Sun Chengzong proposed specific measures such as rectifying ordnance, generous rewards, and strengthening people's hearts.
Zhu Youxiao nodded with satisfaction:
"What Sun Qing said is true! The envoy sent by Thief Liu should be dealt with in the most appropriate way."
Wang Chengen, who was standing at the door, heard the peace talks finally being mentioned and glanced this way.
Sun Chengzong replied: "Your Majesty, Liu Zhaosun has acted recklessly, and people and gods are outraged. He dares to use Shanhaiguan to threaten the imperial court. It is really treason. However, the king in Jin has already taken refuge with Liu thief, so he should obey the authority in this matter."
Chongzhen refused to give up: "What is subordination to power? Please tell me, please. I know everything and can tell you everything."
Sun Chengzong wiped the sweat from his forehead. Knowing that he could not be fooled, he lowered his voice and said:
"Your Majesty, the peace talks must not be leaked to anyone. Dengzhou must not be given to the Liu thieves. Other provisions can be discussed in detail."
Chongzhen didn't speak after listening. After a while, he looked up and stood at the door:
"Your Majesty, please pass on my oral instructions and ask the cabinet to draft and the ceremonial supervisor to approve. Sun Chengzong will be my governor of the affairs inside and outside the capital. Bring the North Korean Chaotian official to the cabinet, and Supervisor Sun will be fully responsible for negotiating peace with Kaiyuan! "
