golden scales

Before Li Zicheng got Niu Jinxing, he could be said to be a real rogue.He took a large group of refugees to loot around, killing the rich and helping the poor, and opening warehouses to release grain.It's just that he won't use it if he robs the land at that time, and the generals who stay in various places really don't ask for food from the people, they all take the money from the rich and powerful families.

Under this situation, no one thought that the trespassers would be successful, and that sooner or later they would be wiped out by the court.However, after Juren Niu Jinxing arrived at the camp, he opened a window for Li Zicheng, letting Li Zicheng know what kind of ecological circle the entire Ming society is, where he belongs, and the allies he will unite with and the enemies he will fight.

Vision is sometimes useless, but sometimes it can bring about earth-shaking changes.When Li Zicheng adopted Niu Jinxing's suggestion, he reduced the number of punishments and executions, gained people's hearts, and selected officials to govern the place.From the slogan of not paying grain to three-year tax exemption and resuming production, everything has become just orderly, and it is no longer a swarm of swarms, which undoubtedly gave him the confidence to seize the world.

Li Zicheng is well aware of this change in himself, so he treats scholars, especially great scholars, with great courtesy and even respect.Later, he recruited Song Xiance, Yang Yongyu and others, and found that scholars were indeed useful, so he sincerely did not want to kill them indiscriminately.

The current Gu Junen is an example.Mr. Gu's strategy has always been simple and clear, to the point, and his words must be right.Since he said that there was a way to cut off Sun Chuanting's livelihood, it definitely couldn't be Meng Lang's theory.

Gu Junen also knows that there are different generals among civil servants.As long as the military generals attack the city and seize the land, they are meritorious, but the meritorious service of the civil servants is "simple in the emperor's heart".Niu Jinxing was the first to enter the camp and his position was consolidated.Song Xiance's tricks and tricks, and excuses to ghosts and gods, are the most suitable for Li Zicheng, who was born as a farmer.Under the attack of the two phases, Gu Junen knew that if he wanted to stand out, he had to show enough momentum in every strategy and leave Li Zicheng with the impression of "I have to".

Sun Chuanting was ordered to encircle and suppress the rebel army in the ninth year of Chongzhen, and killed the leader of the rebel army, Qi Qiwang and others, with outstanding military exploits.At the beginning, he was under Yang Sichang.Because of his discord with Yang Sichang, he was framed by Sichang and sent to prison.After Sichang died, there was really no one in the world who could supervise Shanshan. Because Sun Chuanting captured Chuang Wang Gao Yingxiang, and also beat Li Zicheng to only eighteen riders and fled into the mountains, Chongzhen recovered and was appointed as the governor of the three sides. .

If this nail can be removed in one fell swoop, Gu Junen firmly believes that his position in the Li Dynasty will be no worries.

"That guy Sun Chuanting will definitely not want to go back to eat in prison." Gu Junen tried his best to speak in Li Zicheng's familiar tone: "Now that he wants to leave Tongguan, the first thing he wants to do is to take down Luoyang."

Li Zicheng's thick eyebrows twitched slightly, but he didn't speak.

"Let's let him fight." Gu Junen said simply: "As long as he has the power to regain Luoyang, it is enough to prove that Qin Bing is still a strong soldier in the world and can fight. At that time, even if he wants to stop, Sun Bandit will not be able to stop. "

"Yes, the old emperor definitely wants him to send troops!" Li Zicheng said clearly, "If he refuses, he will be resisting the order."

Gu Junen nodded: "We can throw some prefectures and counties to him and let him call him step by step. There are several meanings in this. Once he occupies more places, he will be guarded by soldiers. Now that he has reported the recovery, When we call back in the future, it will be his crime. Second, we don’t pay the grain and don’t disturb the people. We only rob the big households of money and food. Sun Chuanting can’t do it. If he wants to collect grain and grass, he has to exploit the small people and return the land to the big households Otherwise, his emperor in Yanjing would not agree."

This simple class theory made Li Zicheng very clear that his basis was the grassroots, and the enemy was the big family.He never expected to live in harmony with those Juren and Jinshi masters, but simply regarded them as fat sheep that could be slaughtered.Facts have proved that killing one big family is far more lucrative than robbing ten small ones. In this case, why bother to collect grain?You can also buy a good name.

"Three times, Qin Bing is considered to be from Shaanxi." Gu Junen looked at the face of the Shaanxi man in front of him: "The farther you are from Shaanxi, the more homesick you will be. In this way, the vigor will be lost. As long as we bring them in, we can fight whatever we want."

Li Zichen pondered for a while: "Well, what you said is reasonable!"

"Marshal," Niu Jinxing said, "Henan has been plagued by natural disasters [***] for many years, and the land is thousands of miles away. When will the army not be eaten by people when they are out? Let's give up the land and leave the people to them, and take away all the food. See How did they do it!"

"That's right," Song Xiance echoed, "In this way, the wrath of the sky and the people's grievances will all be borne by them, and it will appear that we are the volunteers who uphold righteousness!"

Li Zicheng had always fallen in love with Gu Junen's strategy of fortifying the wall and clearing the field to lure the enemy in, but he got the approval of the other two conspirators and trusted him even more.He immediately shouted: "Double Happiness!"

Li Shuangxi, who was on duty outside the door, heard his marshal's call, hurried in, cupped his fists and saluted, "Marshal! The child is here."

Li Zicheng has no heirs, this Li Shuangxi has been with him for many years, he is loyal and adopted by him as his adopted son.At this time, from the family of officials to the common people, there is a custom of adopting sons, and the army even regards sons as confidantes. Even Li Dingguo, the famous king of Jin in the future, is still Zhang Xianzhong's son.

"Pass my order: the army will start to march south of Jiaxian County today. From Tongguan to Jiaxian County, only sentry horses and nights will not be accepted to inquire about the news and pass on the military situation. All counties and counties do not even need to prepare guards. They Give them what you want!" Li Zicheng waved his hand, full of air.

Li Shuangxi responded and passed on Li Zicheng's order.

Li Zicheng thanked Gu Junen and others, dispersed the small military meeting, and went to inspect the camp.The three scribes each had offices and correspondence to deal with, so they did not follow Li Zicheng.

Li Zicheng went to the battalion below, questioned the newly recruited soldiers, and met the brothers who were born and died together. What should be explained, what should be comforted, the conflicts between the battalions must be reconciled, and the future division of land must be negotiated. Those who form gangs must be severely cracked down.

After a busy day, Li Zicheng found that Niu Jinxing persuaded him to establish a country and set up a number, to clarify the superiority and inferiority, and to unify orders is still very useful.Among other things, let's look at those gentlemen in the Zhu Dynasty, who dares to bargain with the emperor?A person is still a person, but wearing a dragon robe means that he is a head taller than other people in vain.

Thinking of Niu Jinxing's suggestion, Li Zicheng felt a little unconfident.It is said that the emperor is the son of God, can anyone do it?If you become an emperor, will you collect taxes?Wouldn't it be better to slap yourself in the face if you collect taxes?I, Li Zicheng, am a good man, how can I do such a thing?Li Zicheng sighed softly, suddenly thought of a person, and his heart moved: If you try to persuade him again, maybe he won't be tempted.

After a while, Li Zicheng brought his personal guards to Tanxi Temple outside Xiangyang City.

Tanxi Temple was first built in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It has a five-story pagoda and four hundred monks' houses. It was a famous temple in the two lakes at that time and even for a long time afterwards.It's just that the current world situation is turbulent, and this thousand-year-old temple is no longer at its peak. It's just because eminent monks and great virtuous monks have given lectures on Buddhism here in the past, so it still maintains the reputation of a famous temple.

Li Zicheng has been here several times, and each time he came while enjoying the excitement and returned disappointed.He entered the temple gate, called the Zhike monk over, and asked, "Who has been here these days?"

The Zhike monk is a native of Xiangyang. When he saw Li Zicheng, he said tremblingly: "Bing Qiansui, these days only Qiu Zhitao, the servant of the military and political axe, comes here every day, and he is scolded away after saying a few words."

"That kid is really not lazy." Li Zicheng grinned and said, "Go and take a look."

The Zhike monk hurriedly bowed out of the way and invited King Li to go in.

Li Zicheng walked like flying, and he didn't pay homage to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. He just came to a closely guarded monk's house, took a breath, and shouted loudly: "Brother! Come on!"

There was a heavy sound of closing books in the room, but there was no other movement.

Li Zicheng had gotten used to it, he laughed and said to himself: The more capable a person is, the bigger his temper will naturally be.Like those literati who kneel down and beg for mercy when they see their own family, what can they do?When this eldest brother obeys God's will, maybe he is a character like a crouching dragon and a phoenix!

Li Zicheng pushed and pushed his relatives, pushed the door open and entered, his face was full of enthusiasm, he said: "Brother, it's cold."

A gust of hot air rushed towards the face, and it turned out that a brazier had already been burned inside.

This is naturally Li Zicheng's care, and he smiled with satisfaction: "What book are you reading, brother?"

The middle-aged man behind the book case is only about 40 years old, but his hair is gray, and he looks old beyond his age.He pushed away the seat, walked to the futon in the middle of the house without saying a word, and sat cross-legged in front of the portrait of Bodhidharma without making a sound, as if an old monk had entered meditation.

After making a detour to the book case, Li Zicheng glanced at the cover of the book on the table, and saw the name "The Surangama Sutra of the Bodhisattva Ten Thousand Lines of the Righteous Bodhisattva" written densely on the white stickers on it.Li Zicheng could read, but couldn't finish a sentence, and he didn't know anything about Buddhist scriptures. He looked over the book cover and carefully studied the middle-aged man sitting on the futon.

If you take a closer look, this person really looks a bit like Li Zicheng.The eye sockets are slightly deep, the bridge of the nose is straight, and the square face with Chinese characters seems to have edges and corners.Someone outside heard the marshal call this person "big brother", and seeing this person's appearance, some people believed it, and regarded this scribe as a member of Marshal Li's family.

"Brother, when it comes to talking about it, I treat you with courtesy and thoughtfulness. It seems too unreasonable for you to be so quiet." Li Zicheng has forgotten when was the last time he begged someone to speak in a low-key manner.

"Rebellious minister and thief, don't be a son of man!" The middle-aged scribe finally spoke, his whole body trembling, and his voice became louder and louder: "Thief! Why don't you kill me quickly! Make me loyal!"

Li Zicheng's teeth itched, a feeling of rage rose in his heart, he refused to kill this person, and said with a smile: "Youdao is a brother of Dahu, a father and son soldier in battle. You and Er are a family, how can you be so unfeeling and utterly righteous?" If you don’t want to be the Minister of Military Affairs/Government, it doesn’t matter, as long as you write a memorial for me and give it to Emperor Zhu, I will let you go back to your hometown.”

"Don't think about it, thief!" The scribe rebuffed firmly, without leaving any room for it. (To be continued.)