In Beijing, in the imperial palace, on the platform behind the Jianji Palace, Lu Xiangsheng had just finished answering Emperor Chongzhen's strategy for fighting and defending the Tartars.
After listening to Lu Xiangsheng's reply, Chongzhen looked embarrassed and said with a wry smile: "What Ai Qing said is indeed for the sake of the country. Unfortunately, Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting are doing their best to exterminate the intruders. Now we hope to achieve success in one battle. It is not appropriate to mobilize them for reinforcements at this time. If we recruit civilian volunteers according to your words, it will be difficult to fight against the captive cavalry without training. Moreover, it is also difficult to raise food and salary."
Lu Xiangsheng was still kneeling on the ground, lowered his head, and said resolutely: "Even if the troops of Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting cannot be mobilized to Beijing for the time being, I am still willing to lead the reinforcements of King Qin from Guan Ning, Xuan, Da, and Shanxi to fight with Dong Dong. A battle between the captives will definitely make the Tartars fearful and they will not dare to act recklessly in our Jifu land."
Chongzhen felt a little heavy when he heard this and was silent for a long time. He stared at the black gauze hat on Lu Xiangsheng's head with no expression on his face, as if he was having trouble deciding something.
Lu Xiangsheng just knelt down with his head down, not daring to raise his head. Seeing that the emperor didn't speak for a long time, he continued: "Now the country is in danger and the Lord is worried. How dare I not be so heartless as to repay His Majesty's grace? But Xuanyuan The soldiers and horses of Da and Shanxi have just arrived in Changping, and the soldiers’ wages, food and grain need to be provided in time.”
Chongzhen woke up from his thoughts and just said lightly: "But I love you and you are willing to accept the appointment. You will not hesitate to travel thousands of miles to aid King Qin and do your best to share my worries. As for the military pay section, I immediately ordered Yang Sichang and the ministers of the Ministry of Household Affairs Try to help."
"O minister, I kowtow to thank you for your grace!" Lu Xiangsheng kowtowed again to express his gratitude.
Chongzhen then asked some questions about King Qin's army in Changping and the defense situation of Xuan, Da, and Shanxi towns. However, in his heart, he was extremely hesitant about fighting and defending against the Tartars.
On the one hand, Chongzhen knew that Lu Xiangsheng's loyalty was completely certain, and his firm insistence on fighting the Donglu was not unreasonable; but on the other hand, Chongzhen was very afraid that he might start a war with the Donglu Qing. However, they were defeated in one battle. The only elite frontier army that the imperial court could fight at the moment would be completely lost. In that case, the overall situation of the Ming Dynasty imperial court would be even more difficult to sustain.
After pondering for a moment, Chongzhen continued: "Ai Qing worked hard to suppress the bandits in the past years and repeatedly performed skin skills. However, the power of the Donglu is far beyond that of the bandits. Ai Qing must be cautious."
"When using troops to fight, it is important to be cautious. But in the opinion of the foolish minister, there are Gao Yingxiang and Li Zicheng among the bandits. They are also strong armored cavalry, with well-organized troops, and they have many strong soldiers and generals. , not letting Tang Zhi'an and history, but the ministers in the court kept silent about its strength, and the court did not know it deeply. Now if someone exaggerates how elite, fierce and powerful the cavalry is in front of Your Majesty, they are just making excuses. And looking for ground ears."
Emperor Chongzhen was silent for a while. After a long while, he finally said: "Now that King Qin's army has gathered, it has been exhausted from a long journey, and it still needs some time to recuperate. At present, the cavalry is in great power, and the soldiers are The edge is also very sharp. I love you, you can temporarily avoid the sharp edge of the captive cavalry, but you must always be cautious and never engage in a rough fight with the captive cavalry."
When Lu Xiangsheng heard the emperor say "never fight with Lu Qilang", he couldn't help being surprised. It was like a scoop of icy cold water suddenly poured on his head on a hot summer day, which made him feel a mixture of emotions in his heart.
Just when Lu Xiangsheng was about to risk everything and prepare to continue to make a heart-warming speech to the emperor.
Emperor Chongzhen suddenly said in a cold tone: "I have been traveling for days and a long way to the capital. Your Majesty must be tired from your saddle and horse. Please go back and rest. As for the matter of war and defense against the captives, your Majesty can discuss it carefully with Yang Sichang, Gao Qiqian and others." It’s good to see how to proceed.”
Seeing that the emperor had already said this, Lu Xiangsheng, no matter how angry and resentful he felt, did not dare to say anything more, so he had no choice but to kowtow to express his gratitude and resign.
…………
Lu Xiangsheng came out from the platform behind the Jianji Palace. As soon as he walked outside the Youshun Gate, he saw a young eunuch trotting after him. He told Lu Xiangsheng that the emperor had given him food and wine at the Zuoshun Gate, and Lu Xiangsheng followed him again. Following the little eunuch, he turned to the east and ran through the door on the left.
As usual, the emperor gave wine and rice to his ministers, which was just a form of showing gratitude. There were usually only four kinds of dishes, so you couldn't eat them seriously. Naturally, you didn't dare to drink the wine seriously, so you could only pour the wine in the cup. They are on the ground, and they have to kowtow to give thanks before and after eating.
However, in the feudal era, such a gift of food from the emperor was often regarded as a special favor from the emperor, and it was a rare and supreme honor. Generally, an official in the capital might not encounter it once in his life, even if he was a second-year official in the imperial court. The same is true for high-ranking officials of the first and second grades.
Lu Xiangsheng was so moved that tears filled his eyes, and he kowtowed to the residence of the Northern Emperor to thank him, shouting "Long Live the Mountain". At the same time, he also had a faint feeling in his heart that the current Emperor was leaning towards the main battle again.
Lu Xiangsheng had just finished eating the food and wine given by the emperor. Emperor Chongzhen sent the eunuch Wang Chengen, the eunuch who was responsible for the rituals, Bingbi, to come over to ask Lu Xiangsheng on behalf of the emperor. At this moment, the sun was holding Er Er, and there was a cloud of air below. It was bent like a bow, with its back pointed upward. , what sign is it?
Just like those famous military commanders in ancient times, Lu Xiangsheng was not only proficient in military tactics and tactics, but also paid great attention to divination and meteorology, and he was also very superstitious.
I saw him looking up at the sky for a while. I can't remember whether he read it in the "Star Book" of the Han people or the "Wangqi Jing" of the Tang Dynasty. The meaning reflected in this celestial phenomenon should be the Lord of the Dynasty. The treacherous ministers are in power and deceive the Lord.
Thinking of this, Lu Xiangsheng sighed secretly in his heart, but he did not dare to tell the truth, so he immediately said to Wang Chengen: "I would like to ask the prince to report back to your majesty on behalf of the students. This celestial phenomenon is a sure way to defeat the enemy." It’s a sign of victory.”
Wang Chengen didn't say much, turned around and entered the inner palace to report to the emperor.
However, Lu Xiangsheng was worried that the emperor would have any other inquiries and did not dare to leave immediately. He waited for about a meal at Zuoshunmen. As expected, the eunuch Wang Chengen came out of the inner palace again and conveyed the emperor's oral instructions to Lu Xiangsheng: "Although there are signs from heaven that the enemy will be defeated, my beloved must still be extremely cautious. Lu Xiangsheng must discuss in detail with Yang Sichang and Gao Qiqian how to handle the military affairs."
After Lu Xiangsheng knelt down to receive the order and thanked him, he came out of Zuoshunmen. At this time, his mood was extremely heavy. Although he was still determined to fight, he was a little confused about his future expectations.
He left Zuoshunmen and turned to the court to find the Minister of War and the cabinet minister Yang Sichang. The two returned to Yang Sichang's cabinet office together. It happened that Gao Qiqian, the internal supervisor of the army, was also waiting for Yang Sichang here. The three of them were in the office. Talking about how to follow the order to discuss the war and defense against the Tartars this afternoon.
Finally, it was tentatively agreed that after lunch that day, the three of them would go to the tower of Anding Gate, the east gate of the North Wall of the inner city of Beijing, to discuss strategies for fighting and defending the Tartars.
Although it is not appropriate to talk too much about confidential matters related to the war against the Tartars in the cabinet office, Lu Xiangsheng still heard from the simple conversation that the commander-in-chief Gao Qiqian really had the same tone as the cabinet minister Yang Sichang, and he was very happy in his heart. Afraid of war with Donglu.
Throughout the morning, the attitude of Emperor Chongzhen, his cabinet minister Yang Sichang, and the supervisor Gao Qiqian towards the war with the Tartars made Lu Xiangsheng feel very uneasy, like layers of haze suppressing his chest.
