Crazy at the end of the Ming Dynasty

On the Golden Luan Hall, the first assistant, Wen Body, watched the nose, the nose and the heart with benevolent eyes, just like an old monk entering meditation.

In the court meeting just now, in view of the fierce offensive of the peasant rebel army, the heartland of the Central Plains of the Ming Empire was already in chaos, and the local authorities were simply unable to resist.Therefore, the ministers in the imperial court once again raised the issue of unifying powers.They believed that the reason why the rebel army was able to "flow out and indeterminate" was because "the towns and governors have different powers, and they wait and see each other. It is appropriate to use important officials to open the governor's mansion and command all the soldiers to fight against thieves."

This point of view was unanimously agreed by the Emperor Chongzhen and the ministers.But when the ministers unanimously recommended Hong Chengchou as this candidate, the chief assistant Wen Tiren remembered what he said to Emperor Chongzhen yesterday.

Since it was played secretly, Wen Tiren's words at that time were particularly heartbreaking.He first mentioned the moral issue of Hong Chengchou's killing of prisoners, in order to kidnap Emperor Chongzhen who paid special attention to official morality.

Then, Wen Tiren intentionally or unintentionally mentioned Yuan Chonghuan's popular expectations at that time, so as to plant a thorn in Emperor Chongzhen's heart and arouse Emperor Chongzhen's rebellious psychology.

Then it was mentioned that Hong Chengchou has a great responsibility. After all, the three sides he is stationed now are the birthplace of the Shaanxi bandits, plus Western Mongolia (that is, the Turkic Mongolian tribe, and the Eastern Mongolia that basically took refuge in Houjin are two different things) In order to take precautions, a famous official was required to hold the line.

In the end, Wen Tiren simply showed a slanderous appearance, pretending to be a treacherous minister for the sake of the emperor, and said that he must guard against Hong Chengchou's "high meritorious deeds", in order to win the full trust of Emperor Chongzhen.

So in today's court discussion, Wen Tiren, who knew the character of Emperor Chongzhen, knew that his approach had worked.Sure enough, Emperor Chongzhen then believed that: Shaanxi is adjacent to the Mongolian tribes on three sides, and Hong Chengchou shoulders the heavy responsibility of border defense, "it is not easy."

Then, Emperor Chongzhen declared arbitrarily: "Chen Qiyu, the governor of Jinyansui, is the right servant of the Ministry of War. The governors of Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Huguang, and Sichuan military affairs will follow the directions of the thieves and suppress them."

Fortunately, under Wen Tiren's selfishness, Chen Qiyu skipped Hong Chengchou, who had a high official position, and became the governor of the five provinces.This was the beginning of the establishment of the governor-general who had the power to restrain civil and military officials in several provinces in order to suppress peasant rebellions.

However, this also reflected that the forces of rebel peasants had grown up in the struggle, especially the peasant rebel army was mobile and moved to various provinces, making it impossible for the Ming government to rely on the troops of any province to deal with it.

Guan Kesong, the prefect of Runing Prefecture, and a group of civil servants of Runing Prefecture stood on the city wall of Runing Prefecture, looking into the distance.

yesterday.Xue Yongli sent someone to inform Guan Kesong, the prefect of Runing Prefecture: The Shan bandits have crossed the Yellow River and entered the hinterland of Henan. The Runing army will break out of camp to fight the Shan bandits today.

Because these days in the Runing Army, senior officials like Zhang Xuebin are very busy.In addition, it was military affairs, so Xue Yongli only sent a company commander with the rank of general banner.Take ten soldiers to the magistrate's office to report.

then.Guan Kesong was on the board of directors in the yamen, when he heard a commotion at the yamen gate.When the company commander rushed to the yamen, he was stopped by the door of the yamen.Of course, they looked down on people with dog eyes, seeing that it was just a general flag, and there was no red envelope, so they made things difficult for the company commander.

The company commander was not polite.He immediately commanded the soldiers to overturn the door of the yamen, and then rushed into the magistrate's yamen to meet Guan Kesong.

Fortunately, Guan Kesong was still calm, but after the company commander got angry at the gate of the yamen.Seeing that Guan Kesong didn't even kneel down, he cupped his hands and told Guan Kesong the amazing news.

Suddenly hearing thunder, Guan Kesong didn't even bother to pursue the company commander's rudeness.Because until now, Guan Kesong didn't know that the peasant rebel army had crossed the Yellow River.He didn't expect that he was still having a banquet yesterday, and today the Shaanxi bandits are about to call.

In a panic, Guan Kesong quickly asked: "This military lord, how far is the Shaanxi bandits from Runing?"

Unexpectedly, the company commander replied emphatically: "Military secret!" Then he walked away.

Guan Kesong was so angry that he was half dead, but he didn't dare to neglect, so today he took all the civil servants in the Runing Mansion to the city wall to watch the Runing Army set out from the Runing Army camp.

Seeing groups of soldiers passing by the city of Runing Prefecture, an official from the magistrate's yamen couldn't help but said: "There are too many soldiers in this Runing battalion. It seems that the imperial court didn't pay so much for the soldiers?"

"Shut up!" Guan Kesong immediately stopped the official's nonsense.At this moment, Guan Kesong was really looking forward to the fact that the Runing Army could turn out hundreds of thousands of Heavenly Soldiers, so who could control how many people there were in the Runing Army?

On the official road leading to the city of Runing, a long group of soldiers marched rapidly, billowing smoke and dust.On the side of the road, Yang Rusong and Liang Hui were riding on horseback, surrounded by a group of guards.

Yang Rusong loosened the face towel that covered his face to block the dust, and said: "This time, all our Runing Army Corps will move northward. After reaching the Runing Army camp, you will take an infantry regiment to stay in the camp, and I will take the rest of the soldiers to leave." Go to Nanyang to meet the main force's battle. Alas——! It seems that we can't get a battle and fight, and the meat will be eaten up by them!"

Liang Hui smiled "hehe" and said, "It doesn't matter. I just happened to be replenishing weapons, horses and supplies in the camp. Sharpening knives is not a mistake for woodcutters. There are so many Shaanxi bandits, and it is not enough to fight in one battle. It will be useful." Our place!"

In the fortress of the Thousand Households of Guide Mansion, Xue Yong said to Qian Qi: "This time, Mr. Deng has sent a letter to Commander Zhao (Zhao Ming). command and command."

"But we can't wait for the imperial court's order. I will leave you an infantry regiment to cooperate with the two militia regiments in Guidewei. We must not only guard the gates of Ehuzhai and Qianhusuo Fortress, but also ensure that Guide Wei is still under the control of our Runing Army. So you have a great responsibility."

"I will take other troops and break into Kaifeng Mansion. If the Shan bandits turn to enter Kaifeng Mansion and threaten Runing Mansion and Guide Mansion from the north and west, I will attack the Shan bandits with the main force of the headquarters led by Li Ye. Beat them down."

Qian Qi's consideration was more delicate, he asked: "Should I put my weight on Ehuzhai and Qianhusuo Fortress?" What Qian Qi meant was that if the Runing Army was defeated, his troops would be fine. Go up to respond.

Xue Yong thought for a while and said, "You can deal with it when the opportunity arises. But I don't think it will be necessary. We have practiced hard for five or six years. If we can't even handle these gangsters, then we will have no future."

In the Runing Army, it should be said that except for Wu Shigong and Shumo, the top master and servant, all other officers are fanatical supporters of offensive warfare.And Xue Yongli, who was leading troops for the first time, wanted a hearty victory.

On December 500th, all the troops of the Runing Army gathered in the camp of Luojia Town.The whole army rested for a day in the camp.On the same day, Ye Zhong, the mine supervisor of Nanyang Iron Mine, heard that the peasant rebel army was approaching. He was frightened and fled into Ye County under the protection of more than [-] miners.

Regardless of the protest of Niu Wenqing, the magistrate of Ye County, Shumo forcibly took over the command of Ye County's defense.Shumo gathered more than 3000 people from Ye Zhong's miners, private mine owners' servants, and young men drawn from Ye County to strengthen the city walls and prepare for the defense of Ye County.

And in the list of the Runing Army going out this time, there are two people who are not from the Runing Army.One is Li Lu, the defender of Nanyang; the other is Qianhu Qiao Song.

Although the Ming Dynasty also stipulated that in a state of emergency, the Ming army could cut itself off and leave its garrison area to fight in adjacent areas.However, the nominal commander of the Nanyang Legion is still Nanyang Garrison Li Lu.And because of the absence of Wu Shigong, the governor of Runing, the highest military attaches in the Runing army are Qianzong Xue Yongli and Qianhu Qiao Song.

Li Lu, who was on the defense of Nanyang, was also responsible for guarding the soil. He couldn't escape, but Qiao Song was in a tragedy.Because of his excellent performance in farming affairs, coupled with Qiao Song's original status, Wu Shigong had long ago appointed Qiao Song as the senior civil official in charge of farming in the entire Runing Mansion.

However, the Runing Army's expedition this time would not be possible without the two of them.Xue Yongli made it very clear. He told Li Lu and Qiao Song: It's fine for them not to go out, but they have to hand over their official seals. Otherwise, the Runing Army is in danger of being unidentified.But who dares to hand in the official seal?If the Runing Army did something with their official seal behind their backs, neither of them would know, so in the end, Li Lu and Qiao Song went out with the Runing Army with a bitter face.

On the night of the ninth day of December, Xue Yongli called all the officers for the last military meeting before the expedition.In the military discussion, Xue Yongli pointed out: This expedition will adopt the tactics of attacking quickly, fighting bravely, and retreating quickly.Try to frighten the peasant rebel army once, so that they dare not approach the area controlled by the Runing Army.

Because enough food and grass must be left in Ye County, Luojia Town Daying and Longan Village, the food and grass carried by the Runing Army this time, plus the dry food bags on each soldier's body, can only support the entire army. monthly consumption.

Therefore, the time for the attack was set at ten days, and it was expected to advance about three hundred miles.When attacking, they will try not to approach the city as much as possible, marching on remote roads, so as to be sudden and concealed.But in this way, the supply of food and grass will basically be gone.

The search for the Shan bandits and the battle lasted up to ten days.Once the time is up, the whole army will quickly retreat.If it is a big victory, then the marching speed of the withdrawal will be slowed down to replenish food and grass in the cities along the way, otherwise, it will be withdrawn to the current defense line in Nanyang as quickly as possible.

In the early morning of December [-], the first [-] reconnaissance cavalry of the Runing Army were divided into ten teams and set off first.At noon, the entire Runing Army left Ye County, actively seeking an opportunity to fight a decisive battle with the peasant rebel army. (to be continued..)