Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but look at Zhang Mingwei.
All the busyness nowadays is based on the premise that the rogue thieves will come to open the seal. Chen Yongfu is right, what if the thieves don't come?
Zhang Mingwei listened, nodded and said: "It is possible! But what does it matter? If the bandits don't come, Kaifeng will be our base camp and the place where food and grass are stored."
Having said this, he looked at the others and said confidently: "I learned from the prisoners that the bandits are no longer bandits, and they will also send people to rule the fallen city. I estimate that at this time, they will not be like before. Those who wander around like that will come to us for a decisive battle."
In the original history, Li Zicheng heard that the imperial officers and soldiers gathered in Zhuxian Town to rescue Kaifeng. At that time, there were 180,000 troops, and they were said to be 500,000. Whether it is actual or claimed, it is far more than his current army. But even so, Li Zicheng's final decision was to concentrate his main force, take the initiative to fight, and go to Zhuxian Town to defeat the imperial army.
After hearing the Duke's analysis, the generals below couldn't help but think deeply. Today's rogue thieves are indeed no longer rogues!
Seeing how they were thinking, Zhang Mingwei added: "In addition, if we don't collect and spread out at night, we are not just checking the place where the bandits' grain and grass are stored and where their homes are. If we can find it, then we can attack it." The enemy must be rescued.”
Qiao Wannian, who had died in the battle before, was informed by the local squire that he attacked the settlement place of Li Zicheng's family, forcing Li Zicheng to rush to rescue. The plan was to ambush and surround Li Zicheng and win a great victory. As a result, the generals under his command did not listen to the orders, and even rushed to escape after Li Zicheng led the army, resulting in him being killed.
At this time, the generals no longer had any doubts when they heard that the Duke knew what he was thinking. For Chen Yongfu, he was eager for the bandits to come to Kaifeng again, so that he could participate in the war under the command of the Duke.
As a bystander, he could see it. Although the army led by the Duke was far smaller in number than the bandits' army, the Duke's men were all elite, and all the generals obeyed the Duke, and no one dared to disobey him. This is the prerequisite for being able to fight and win the war.
If you fight under the command of the Duke, you don't have to worry about your achievements being falsely claimed, and you will be promoted quickly.
However, he didn't quite believe that Li Zicheng's troops would come to Kaifeng City and continue to bump into him head-on. Therefore, when he saw that the Duke was in a good mood, he reported to Zhang Mingwei: "My Lord, I will have a dog in the end. He is good at all kinds of martial arts, especially in archery. There is a tendency that a young man is better than a blue man. He admires him. I have been with you for a long time, I am willing to fight on the battlefield under your command and serve your country with loyalty!"
When the others heard this, they all showed knowing smiles. This Chen Yongfu is really discerning.
Bai Guangen, on the other hand, immediately thought of his son who was captured by Jianlu during the previous battle of Songjin, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
When Zhang Mingwei heard this, he immediately remembered that there was a saying in later generations that Li Zicheng's eye was not blinded by Chen Yongfu, but by his son Chen De.
Now, of course he knows that it was Chen Yongfu who shot him blind. However, whether it was said to be shot by his son Chen De or recommended by Chen Yongfu himself, it shows that his son's ability is also very strong. However, it is a pity that he did not remain famous in history.
Thinking of this, Zhang Mingwei smiled and said: "In that case, I will meet you, and if you can, you can be a personal guard by my side for the time being!"
When he heard that he was serving as a personal guard for the Duke, Chen Yongfu couldn't help but be overjoyed. He quickly thanked him, which made other generals envious. He secretly hated his mother-in-law for being so unsatisfactory. Why didn't he have a son to serve as a personal guard for the Duke?
In the relaxed atmosphere, Zhang Mingwei suddenly became serious again and said to them: "If we go by previous experience, July and August are the rainy periods in the Central Plains. When you are training, you must be prepared to fight on rainy days."
In fact, it has already rained once. In the past few days, although it has not rained, it has only been sunny for one day.
When the generals heard this, they were surprised for a moment and then all agreed. They all thought that it seemed that the Duke of Guo had considered things very comprehensively!
After the meeting, Zhang Mingwei also had a few ideas about fighting on a rainy day, so he was busy making arrangements.
At this time, he naturally didn't know that Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai's troops were already gathering the main force and leading the troops north to Kaifeng for a decisive battle.
But it probably won't take long, and the news can be detected without stopping at night.
………………
Just when the Kaifeng War was about to break out again, far away in Shenyang, Liaodong, slave chief Huang Taiji, although his condition was unstable, had improved a lot these days, so he discussed matters in Chongzheng Hall again. The first thing he did was to ask Fan Wencheng: "Why haven't the people sent to Zhangjiakou heard back yet?"
If we go by the past, even if no one was sent to Zhangjiakou, it would have been more than two months since the Battle of Songjin ended, and those Shanxi merchants should have sent people to Liaodong long ago.
Fan Wencheng was also surprised. When Huang Taiji asked, he quickly replied: "I have sent someone to Zhangjiakou again. Judging by the time, I estimate that I will get a reply within the next few days!"
When Duduo, who had played with Fan Wencheng's wife, heard this, he asked, "Don't you know the importance of the Shanxi merchants' food and grass to our Qing Dynasty? Why did you send people casually to delay things before? Do you know your guilt?"
After the Battle of Songjin that lasted for half a year, Jianlu still used the siege battle which consumed the most food and supplies. Therefore, their material reserves were almost exhausted. Although Han slaves also planted grain fields in Liaodong, they were far from meeting the needs of Jianlu. The grain sold by Shanxi merchants to Liaodong was extremely important.
Faced with Duduo's questioning, Fan Wencheng did not dare to neglect, because he knew that if Duduo got angry, believe it or not, he would go back to snatch his wife and humiliate him. Anyway, it would be impossible for Duduo to have anything happen to him. A reprimand, a fine or something.
"The person sent by the slave is a trusted and reliable person of the slave! The slave feels that something must be delayed!"
Duduo just doesn't like him and is looking for trouble with him. He can't just say it and let it go: "You, a dog slave, dare to quibble, do things poorly, and delay my important affairs in the Qing Dynasty. What crime do you deserve?"
Prince Baylor, the other Jianlu prince, saw that Duduo was obviously looking for trouble, but no one tried to persuade him. In their opinion, one is a prince and the other is a dog slave. Their statuses are not the same at all. They should reprimand them a little and don't be too normal.
Huang Taiji, who was sitting in the main seat, did not stop him immediately. Because he was not satisfied either. Food in Zhangjiakou was a big deal. Even if something was delayed, he should have sent someone back to report the news, but he didn't. Therefore, he believed that he was too kind to Fan Wencheng, so that he could not do his best. It would also be good to let Dodo beat him up.
It wasn't until Fan Wencheng's forehead started to sweat after being questioned by Duduo that Huang Taiji spoke and said calmly: "Okay, I believe Fan Qing can still do things. Since I can get something in return in these two days, I will wait for another one." Check it out in two days!"
After hearing this, Duduo snorted heavily at Fan Wencheng, who was sweating profusely, and said no more.
Huang Taiji then turned to look at Jierhalang and asked him: "Ningjin First Line, how is the situation?"
Previously, Jierhalang was in charge of the Ningyuan Jinzhou area. At this time, he had just returned to Shenyang. Upon hearing Huang Taiji's question, Jierhalang immediately and respectfully replied: "The Ming army was huddled in Shanhaiguan and could not come out. My brother once tried to attack Guangning Zhongqian, but the Ming army had no intention of giving up. But judging from the current situation, , and they have no intention of taking back Ningyuan."
Having said this, he paused and then said: "My brother has also arranged for people to plant grain fields from Ningyuan to Jinzhou. If the harvest is good, it will be able to supplement most of the grain needs of the two cities of Ningyuan. But there is one thing that still needs to be done. Extra attention.”
"Oh, which point?" Huang Taiji asked quickly after hearing this.
He understood that Jilharang was the most stable prince. If he said there was something that needed extra attention, it must be something that needed attention.
The other princes obviously thought so too, and they all listened with their ears pricked up.
I heard Jierhalang report: "The Ming army on Juehua Island outside Ningyuan City has not withdrawn. My brother thought that they might have a conspiracy."
After hearing this, Huang Taiji thought for a moment, nodded and said: "Indeed, Juehua Island still needs to be eradicated, otherwise, whether it is the Ming army's counterattack from the sea, or Juehua Island sending troops to invade Ningjin It’s all a matter on the front line!”
At this point, he saw the surprised expressions on the faces of King Gongshun and others, and knew what they were thinking, so he changed the topic and continued: "Anyway, in the short term, the Ming army has just withdrawn. They even gave up the important town of Ningyuan. In the short term, the Ming army will definitely not leave the border again. Therefore, after the winter freezes, let Ningyuan City send troops to knock down Juehua Island!"
Jianlu had never been to the sea. The only way to land on an island was to capture Pi Island and get rid of this henchman.
No matter who the captives are, including Huang Taiji himself, because after going to the sea, it is not their advantage. If all the Han people who surrendered have a wrong idea, the consequences will be disastrous.
As for the loyalty of the Han people, because of the Liu Aita incident, it was like a thorn in Jianlu's heart. Even though they were very loyal on the surface, they were still on guard in their hearts.
It was also for this reason that Huang Taiji did not strictly prohibit his tribesmen from provoking the Han people. Just like Duduo versus Fan Wencheng, in Huang Taiji's view, the necessary beatings are still needed.
While Huang Taiji was thinking about it, suddenly the guards outside the palace came in and reported that Fan Wencheng's family had urgent matters outside the palace and asked Fan Wencheng.
Upon hearing this, Fan Wencheng guessed that the person sent to Zhangjiakou had returned.
