"My lord, see your majesty."
Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren came to Qianqing Palace and bowed deeply to Chongzhen.
"I love you." Chongzhen raised his hand and asked, "You two came to see me, but there is something that the cabinet cannot decide and I need to make an decision?"
Chief Assistant Zhou Yanru said: "Your Majesty, I have just learned that the reason why we cannot mobilize soldiers and horses from Liaodong to the capital is because there are some problems in Liaodong. If this problem cannot be solved, I am afraid that we will not be able to mobilize troops from Liaodong in a short time." The soldiers and horses there.”
After hearing this, Chongzhen's expression suddenly changed and he quickly asked: "What's the problem? Is it serious?"
The soldiers and horses in Liaodong were elites that the Ming Dynasty had spent a lot of money and food to raise over the years. Hearing that there was something wrong with this elite of the Ming Dynasty, Chongzhen became nervous.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. The problem is not particularly serious. It's just troublesome, but it's not impossible to solve." Zhou Yanru comforted him.
Hearing this, Chongzhen breathed a sigh of relief and said: "That's good, that's good. In that case, let's leave it to the cabinet to resolve! I hope I can see Liaodong's troops entering the capital earlier."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will do my best and never let Your Majesty down." Zhou Yanru agreed, and then said, "However, there is another matter of transferring Liaodong soldiers and horses to Beijing, which needs to be decided by Your Majesty yourself."
"What's the matter?" Chongzhen asked casually.
As long as nothing happened to Ming's soldiers and horses in Liaodong, it would be no big deal in his opinion.
Zhou Yanru said: "It's a long way from Liaodong to the capital. Liaodong hopes that the imperial court can send a batch of money and food to solve the difficulties of the march. Your Majesty, do you think you need permission?"
The old-fashioned Zhou Yanru didn't make up his mind, and acted like Chongzhen was the main one in everything.
"Money and food again!" Chongzhen frowned.
The Ming Dynasty was asking for money and food from him as the emperor everywhere, but Shandong was occupied by the Tiger Flag, and the canal could be cut off at any time. How could he still have money and food to send to Liaodong?
Seeing Chongzhen's headache, Zhou Yanru said, "I've already asked the ministers at the Ministry of Household Affairs, but I'm afraid they can't get the money and food needed by Liaodong. Your Majesty, do you think you should collect a batch of money and food from other places to solve the problem?" It’s urgent.”
"Where does the money and food come from? Jiangnan?" Chongzhen said with dissatisfaction.
The northern part of the Ming Dynasty has basically fallen into the hands of the Tiger Banner. The only state capitals that nominally belong to the Ming Dynasty are the south of the Yangtze River and Sichuan.
Zhou Yanru did not answer the question.
He would never say anything about collecting money and food from Jiangnan. Although he offended the Donglin Party because of Qian Qianyi's matter, he was not willing to offend the entire Shilin in Jiangnan.
"Why are you silent?" Chongzhen glanced at Zhou Yanru and said, "If you don't find a way from the south of the Yangtze River, is it possible for me to collect money and food from the northwest?"
"I am guilty."
Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren hurriedly leaned over and confessed.
"Guilty, guilty. I don't want to hear you say that you are guilty. I want a solution. One of you is the first assistant and the other is the second assistant. You can't even solve the money and food problem of the court. What use do I need from you!" Chongzhen said coldly! Said with a face.
When he thought that the rebels might attack the capital at any time, but he, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, could not even mobilize the Ming Dynasty's own troops, he became increasingly irritable.
In his opinion, as the emperor, he had issued a decree, and the soldiers and horses of Liaodong should come to the capital as soon as possible instead of bargaining with him, the emperor.
Zhou Yanru remained silent, and Wen Tiren knew that he had to stand up.
Just listen to him say: "Your Majesty, given the current situation in Shandong, if the tiger bandit really intends to attack Northern Zhili, it is absolutely impossible to allow the grain and grass transported from the south to reach the capital through the canal."
"Then tell Gao Di that as long as the tiger thieves are defeated, I will provide them with money and food every cent." Chongzhen said with a dark face.
As an emperor, he was threatened by his subordinates. How could he feel comfortable in his heart? Even if he wanted to cut Gao Di into pieces at the moment, he had to wait until the soldiers and horses from Liaodong arrived in the capital.
After hearing this, Zhou Yanru secretly glanced at Wen Tiren.
Both of them understood that Chongzhen hated Gao Di very much now.
Although Gao Di is not one of their people, Gao Di must be explained at this time, otherwise the problem of transferring Liaodong soldiers and horses to the capital will still not be solved.
"Your Majesty," Zhou Yanru said, "This matter has little to do with Gao Di. The main problem is with Zu Dashou."
Snapped!
Chongzhen slapped his palm hard on the table.
It's not that he doesn't want to bring a tea cup, it's just that the expenses in the palace are too high, and he doesn't dare to break anything anymore.
"It's this Zu Dashou again. I haven't settled the debt with him last time. I didn't expect that I would dare to ignore my will again." Chongzhen's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
During the first Qin Dynasty, Zu Dashou suddenly led his troops to retreat. Chongzhen killed Zu Dashou at that time. Later, he was not punished because Sun Chengzong came forward to intercede. Unexpectedly, this time it was because of this talent that the court could not transfer Liaodong. Troops and horses entered Beijing.
Zhou Yanru said: "Your Majesty, although this person is hateful, he has been on the battlefield for a long time. The tiger thief is really going to attack the capital. The imperial court must need this person to come forward to defend against the enemy. Your Majesty, please keep this person alive for the time being."
He said this, but he knew in his heart that the imperial court was probably desperate to see this ancestor live a long life. If it really pushed this person, there was no way he would directly join the slaves and thieves.
"There are so many generals in Liaodong, is there no one who can replace him?" Chongzhen said dissatisfied.
In his opinion, people like Zu Dashou who disobeyed the Holy Ming should be cut to pieces like Yuan Chonghuan.
"I'm afraid no one can replace this person for the time being." Zhou Yanru said.
He never thought of explaining the complicated situation of Liaodong generals to Chongzhen. He felt that it was better for Chongzhen not to know about this kind of thing.
Chongzhen frowned deeply and said, "What would Aiqing think about Sun Chengzong replacing Gao Di?"
He was already disappointed with Gaudi.
Last time it was Sun Chengen who made Zu Dashou obedient and deal with the army of slave thieves. This time he thought of using Sun Chengzong again.
"Your Majesty," Zhou Yanru said, "Although Gao Di disappoints Your Majesty, even if Sun Chengzong is activated by Your Majesty, it may not be of much use. Sun Chengzong has presided over Liaodong for many years."
After hearing this, Chongzhen became suspicious again, with an uncertain expression on his face.
When the capital was besieged, so many people failed to persuade Zu Dashou to return. However, Sun Chengzong persuaded Zu Dashou to return, and then led Zu Dashou to drive the army of slaves and thieves out of the pass.
This made him doubt the relationship between Sun Chengzong, Zu Dashou and even the generals in Liaodong.
Zhou Yanru, who noticed the change in Chongzhen's face, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He did not want Sun Chengen to become an official again.
With Sun Chengzong's qualifications, just joining the cabinet would pose too great a threat to him as the chief minister.
(End of chapter)
