Seeing Li Zicheng's satisfied look, Tian Jianxiu, who had just reported the military situation, smiled and said: "Your Majesty, there are only three mansions. If we can capture the whole of Huguang, we will be extremely rich!"
Li Zicheng smiled: "That's right. If we can capture the whole territory of Huguang and then take Sichuan to the west...the three-thirds of the world will be much better than the three-thirds of the world of Liu Huangshu! Yufeng, let's go to the west. , the nine counties of Jingxiang are entrusted to you, don’t imitate Guan Yunchang and let that kid Zhu Cixiang steal the land of Jingzhou."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty," Tian Jianxiu said happily, "If I'm in Jingzhou, the boy named Zhu will never get it... I'll build a warship for the Emperor in Jingzhou. When the Emperor decides, Western Shu used the warships built in Jingzhou to sail eastward and took over half of the Zhu family’s territory!”
Li Zicheng stroked his beard and smiled: "I've long wanted to visit Jiangnan!"
Niu Jinxing saw that Li Zicheng and Tian Jianxiu had planned so well, and did not dare to pour cold water on them. She just frowned quietly, but was caught by one of Li Zicheng's eyes.
Emperor Li asked with a smile: "Zuo Fu doesn't believe that you can take all the lands of the Nine Lords of Jing and Xiang?"
"Your Majesty," Niu Jinxing said hurriedly, "I just saw that the crown prince of the Zhu family had the strength to fortify the city, defend the Yangtze River, and have the advantage of the navy's artillery... And we don't have many soldiers and horses. Of the 100,000 people, only half can fight. If we want to take the southern part of Huguang, I'm afraid it won't be enough!"
Li Zicheng now has the "Old Camp Soldiers". Although he is worthy of his old brothers, there are also disadvantages. He can no longer coerce people into joining the army - coercion is what rogue bandits can do. Now Li Zicheng's Dashun Army has taken root in the local landlords. Of course He will not use his tenants as cannon fodder. Otherwise, who will they ask to collect rent next year?
Therefore, the number of the Dashun Army was not as scary as before. This time, the total number of soldiers and horses accompanying Li Zicheng and Li Guo was 96,000, of which only 48,000 were regular soldiers who could go into battle.
Although the remaining 48,000 auxiliary soldiers are young men from tenant families, they still have "masters" after all, and they cannot be consumed to death unless it is absolutely necessary.
Therefore, the strength of the Dashun Army on the battlefield in Huguang was not sufficient. They occupied three mansions, facing Zhu Cixiang in the east, and guarding Zuo Liangyu and Zuo Mengeng in the west. Basically, they were at their limit.
Moreover, the backbone of Li Zicheng's army is either from Shaanxi or Henan, and they are not good at playing navy. Although some warships were built with great fanfare in Xiangjing Prefecture, their strength was inferior to that of the original Caojiang Navy, let alone the Yangtze River Navy.
In addition, the cannons of the Ming Army look more powerful than those of the Dashun Army. Not only can they hit far, the cannonballs are even bigger!
Li Zicheng smiled: "The opposite side is not the Zhu family's crown prince's family, but Zhu Cihong, He Tengjiao and the Zuo family's father and son... Maybe they will fight first. Then, our chance will come!"
A hint of surprise flashed across Tian Jianxiu's face: "Your Majesty, is this really possible?"
Niu Jinxing also asked: "Does the emperor have a clever plan to implement?"
Just when Li Zicheng was about to say something, Gu Junen suddenly hurried in from outside the door, holding an envelope in his hand. He first kowtowed to Li Zicheng, then without saying anything, he stood up and handed over the envelope.
Li Zicheng took the envelope, opened it, took out the letter paper inside, and burst into laughter: "The old thief Zuo Liangyu is finally dead! He died well and at the right time!"
...
"Military advisor, Qiu Shibo, sister...if you have any ideas, just tell me!"
Zuo Mengeng, dressed in linen and filial piety, was sitting in the middle hall of a heavily guarded luxurious mansion in Jiangling City, with tears on his face. Huang Shu, Qiu Lei, and Zuo Mengmei were also sitting in the hall. Among them, Zuo Mengmei was also wearing linen clothes like him.
Needless to say, Zuo Liangyu is now dead!
For Zuo Mengeng, this matter is definitely not a good thing - can the death of his father be a good thing? It’s definitely not good! Moreover, Zuo Menggeng cannot legitimately inherit his father's "military legacy." Historically, in order to appease the Zuo family army, the Southern Ming Dynasty granted Zuo Menggeng the title of Pingthief General when he made Zuo Liangyu a marquis, which was equivalent to confirming the succession of father and son as the leader of the Zuo army.
Therefore, there is no problem for Zuo Menggen to ascend the throne!
Zhu Cihong was not as easy to talk to as King Fat Fu. It was unambiguous to confer Zuo Liangyu the title of Marquis of Wuchang, but he refused to transfer the title of Pingthief General to Zuo Mengeng.
So Zuo Mengeng now only has the official title of Wuchang Guards General - Wuchang Mansion is still taken by Zhu Cixiang!
In other words, if Zuo Menggen wants territory but no territory, and wants status but no status, all he can rely on are the three thousand Zuo family servants and the old man's old Liao Town headquarters.
There was silence in the room. After a while, Qiu Lei broke the silence: "Young General, now that the prince and Li Zicheng are facing each other across the river, it is the time to use troops and generals. You will not embarrass the young general in the selection of generals to defeat thieves. As long as Chu Chu If the king writes a memorial and recommends him, he should be able to follow the trend."
Zuo Mengeng turned his attention to Zuo Mengmei again. This girl was so good now. She was so fascinated by the little King Chu that he didn't even know what was going on. If you had known she was so charming, you should have sent her to Zhu Cihong!
"Sister, what do you think?"
Zuo Mengmei smiled and said: "Brother, the prince listens to me, there is no problem with the last memorial. It's just..."
"Just what?" Zuo Mengeng asked.
"It's just that the prince is stationed in Wuchang. As the leader of an army, can you not go to see him?"
Zuo Mengeng's expression changed.
Zuo Mengmei was still talking: "Brother, you have offended the prince deeply! That day, the prince wanted the girl to serve, so he asked you to stop her!"
Did I stop that? Zuo Mengeng complained in his heart, it was because the old man wouldn't let him! At that time, I thought the old man was wise, but now that I think about it, he is completely confused. If I sent you, a naughty bitch, to Nanjing, you would be in the position of Wu Sanfu now! Maybe it's more than that. If you are brave enough to give birth to a son...
Zuo Mengmei continued: "The prince wants to ascend the throne early, but you threaten to support the king of Chu."
What an injustice! Zuo Mengeng said in his heart: That's the old man's stupid talk!
"This time Li Zicheng went east, and you left Jingzhou without fighting and handed over the three prefectures of Chengtian, De'an and Hanyang to Li Zicheng..."
This pot indeed belonged to Zuo Mengeng, and he frowned deeply.
Zuo Mengmei said: "Brother, until now, do you still think that you can be forgiven by the prince and inherit your father's position as a thief general?"
Zuo Mengeng turned his attention to his military commander Huang Shu: "Military advisor, what should we do?"
Huang Shu smiled: "Why are you panicking, young general? The young general is now in Jiangling, watching the tigers. Neither Li Zicheng nor the prince dare to do anything to you!"
He glanced at Zuo Mengmei and Qiu Lei and said with a smile: "The young general is too sad and restless. Let's discuss important matters another day."
Zuo Mengeng sighed and nodded.
Qiu Lei and Zuo Mengmei looked at each other and stood up to leave. Huang Shu, who proposed another day, did not leave.
Zuo Mengeng looked at him: "Do you have anything to say, military advisor?"
Huang Shu smiled: "Now we are in the Northern and Southern Dynasties. There is no doubt that the Northern Dynasty's surname is Aixinjueluo. In the Southern Dynasty, whether it is the king of Chuang or the prince, it all depends on the wishes of the young general!"
"Military advisor, you call Li Zicheng..."
"King Chuang!" Huang Shu said, "Now half of Huguang is welcoming King Chuang!"
Zuo Mengeng frowned: "Li Zicheng is planning to teach Tian Tian by dictation!"
"So what?" Huang Shu asked, "Does the young general have a lot of land for him to share?"
Zuo Mengeng shook his head: "That's not true..."
Huang Shu smiled and said: "Then what is there to be afraid of, young general?"
"This... I'm afraid the generals won't want to follow!"
Huang Shu smiled and said: "As long as the general can achieve great success, why will the generals refuse to follow him?"
Zuo Mengeng asked: "But how can I become a successful person?"
Huang Shu said: "The young general can become the lord of Hunan!"
"Lord of Hunan?" Zuo Mengeng took a breath of cold air, "How do you want to be the leader? How do you want to be the leader?"
Huang Shu smiled and said: "This is too easy... The governor of Hunan, He Tengjiao, has a good relationship with us, and he has received the favor of the old commander. Now that the old commander has passed away, can he not come to see him off? And the King of Chu also It’s in your hands!”
