Aspiration

Chapter 164 The Great Retreat
Dou Meiyi's going or staying has become a headache for Li Zicheng.

This way back to Shaanxi, thousands of miles away, are the officers and soldiers who surrendered in various places still loyal to Dashun?No one is sure.According to the news reported by Lao Jiu, many former officials of the Ming Dynasty were secretly preparing to support the prince, and some were also preparing to support other descendants of the Zhu family as kings.Therefore, the road of thousands of miles may be full of dangers everywhere.

It is definitely not possible to fight with a woman.

Dou Meiyi's going and staying, you should ask the woman herself.Li Zicheng loved this woman very much, and he hoped that she would propose to stay in Beijing.

It was rare for Li Zicheng to respect a woman's opinion so tenderly.After he and Dou Meiyi warmed up for a while, he explained the situation to Dou Meiyi.Dou Meiyi pondered for a while, and said: "The concubine was born as a Dashun person, and died as a ghost of Dashun. I know that the emperor took me all the way back to Shaanxi. Although I am reluctant, the concubine is still in Beijing. Please wait for your Majesty. The concubine knows that Dashun has only encountered temporary difficulties. After the emperor leads his troops to conquer the East again and sweeps away the captives, when the emperor returns to the Forbidden City, the concubine will be able to see the emperor again. At that time, A concubine can serve the emperor every day."

What a wise woman!
Li Zicheng cried for the first time.

He looked at Dou Meiyi's face for a long time, and finally said: "Take care. I will explain to Li Laiheng. If I can't even protect a woman, I don't need to be a man."

Li Zicheng didn't have much time to grow up with his son and daughter, so he turned around and walked out, and said to Li Shuangxi, "Call Li Laiheng here."

Soon, Li Laiheng came.

"Concubine Dou, I leave it to you. This is the first thing. The second thing is that I may have really treated Li Yan badly. From now on, please treat Li Yan kindly. He is a person worthy of entrustment. Third, You yourself. In Beijing, the people in the city do not return their hearts, and outside the city, the army is overwhelming. How to deal with it, I will give you the right to deal with it on the spot. If you give your deputy a general, you can kill it first and then play it." Li Zicheng said.

Li Laiheng was a little agitated, after all, at this time Li Zicheng still realized his mistake and knew that he had treated Li Yan badly.As for the rest, Li Laiheng has nothing to say, Dou Meiyi, a woman in her early twenties, he will definitely take good care of her, and he himself, he knows, will definitely have a difficult time in the future.

Li Laiheng knew that now, he was contending with history and reversed the course of history by himself.

According to the normal historical process, a descendant of the Jurchen nation, a minor child named Fulin, will move to the Forbidden City on a not-too-distant day and officially become the monarch of China.And his descendants, in the next 100 years, created a world-famous Kangqian prosperity.It is also his descendants. In another 100 years, due to the conservative and closed country, the great country was reduced to a weak country. In the end, they were humiliated by the world powers. Even the small island country in the east, they can use them The gunfire opened the way, and planted their sun flags on our great rivers and mountains.

against history.

How powerful is history?

Li Laiheng unconsciously fell into a kind of anxiety.He doesn't know anything about the future, and everything in the future is unknown.

After Li Zicheng confessed to Li Laiheng, he was about to leave, and he had to leave tonight.He was almost the last person to leave Beijing. If he didn't leave, the pursuing enemy would probably catch up.

Li Laiheng, perhaps, once Li Zicheng left, he would never be seen again. From now on, did he really die in Jiugong Mountain, or did he become a monk at Jiashan Temple in Shimen County?Li Laiheng really wanted to ask Li Zicheng himself to solve this historical mystery.But, who knows where he will end up in the future?
Li Laiheng said to Li Zicheng: "Your Majesty, don't worry about Beijing. We will do our best. The problem is that I am worried that the Qing soldiers may bypass Beijing and directly attack the Central Plains, and may even directly attack Shaanxi."

Of course Li Zicheng also has this kind of worry, so he has to return to Shaanxi in a hurry.For him, the defense of Shaanxi is more important. It is his foundation, the political center of the Dashun Dynasty, and a symbol of the existence of the Dashun Dynasty.

Li Zicheng left.He didn't take Dou Meiyi with him. Although this woman was reasonable and strong, she cried like a tearful person.It's not that she doesn't know that she is alone in this life, her parents are gone long ago, and her husband will never come back.She is not yearning for the glory and wealth in the palace, nor is she yearning for the love and affection of a lifetime. She knows that she will lose even the most basic home.

If one day, the Qing soldiers stationed in Beijing, her only choice would be the same as Queen Zhou, to be loyal to the country and die for Li Zicheng, and she would choose to hang herself without hesitation.

Now, she continues to live in the Forbidden City, and Li Laiheng sent his own soldiers to guard her. Li Laiheng told her, only I, Li Laiheng, are still alive, so don't worry, no one will dare to touch a hair of your hair.

Not long after Li Zicheng left, Li came over.

Li Guo was the last to leave Beijing.After he died, he left, which meant that Li Laiheng became alone.He came to see Li Laiheng once.

"Beijing can't be defended. Choose an opportunity to retreat." Li Guo only said this.This sentence cannot be said in public. If it shakes the morale of the army, it is a crime of beheading.He only said this on a special occasion like today, when he and Li Laiheng met alone. This may be a rare expression of his concern for his son as a father.

Li Guo is a famous general under Li Zicheng. Usually, he is sent to complete the most difficult tasks. This man who has been dealing with knives and blood for a long time showed his father's tenderness at the last moment.

Li Laiheng smiled and said, father, don't worry about your son, you are no less stressed than me. (Historical records: Li Guo, the word Buzhi, Li Zicheng was ordered to guard northern Shaanxi when he retreated from Beijing, and fought against the Azige Department of the Qing Army for three months, restraining the Qing Army from advancing south. When the Dashun Army fled south, it fought with the Gaoyi Power Department Jingmen. After Li Zicheng was murdered in Jiugong Mountain, Tongcheng County, Li Wei joined the Yubu in Pingjiang, Hunan, and later united with Nanming He Tengjiao, Du Yinxi and others to fight against the Qing Dynasty. Li Dingguo moved to Hunan and Guangxi for five years. Afterwards, the army was plagued by epidemics, the soil and water were not acclimatized, and he died of illness.)
The meeting between Li Guo and Li Laiheng was short-lived, the two bloody men didn't have much warmth to say, what they wanted to say, they couldn't say it, they just buried it in their hearts.

Li Zicheng's retreating army went smoothly before, but when they arrived near Taiyuan, something went wrong.The Ming army that had surrendered received an imperial edict from His Royal Highness, calling on the former officials of the Ming Dynasty to rise up against Li Zicheng.

Therefore, after entering Shanxi, Li Zicheng's troops were harassed by the Ming army from time to time.

The Eastern Expedition was basically greeted in the past, but when it came back, it had to fight all the way back.This situation is really ridiculous.

Niu Jinxing couldn't stand this kind of defeat of a thousand-mile march.Since Niu Jinxing defected to Li Zicheng, it has basically been smooth sailing, but now he has to flee thousands of miles, he really can't stand it.

Niu Jinxing has a huge entourage, and the number of handymen in the prime minister's mansion is more than that of Li Zicheng's camp.His team moved very slowly, and his train of baggage stretched for two miles.A team of more than 300 people carried furniture for him. The big bed, high chairs, tables, and cabinets were all made of extremely heavy precious wood, and it was very difficult to lift them up.

Li Guo has already sent people to urge him many times. He said that at such a slow pace, the pursuers will be behind.

However, Niu Jinxing was reluctant to throw away these things. He was also anxious and afraid of death, so he scolded and beat those who carried the sedan chairs and things, causing hundreds of people to complain.

The siege of Beijing by the Qing soldiers has not been lifted, and Dorgon is adjusting his strategy.

Just as Li Laiheng considered, while isolating Beijing, he adopted a two-pronged offensive approach, going southeast from Shandong and westward from Shanxi.

Li Zicheng is facing a very dangerous situation.

Wu Sangui marched from Hebei to Henan.Azige led the Qing soldiers all the way to the west, and soon they were about to catch up with Li Guo's rearguard.

However, Niu Jinxing was still walking slowly, and he couldn't walk fifty miles a day.Li Guo was furious, he patted his horse to catch up, and shouted at Niu Jinxing: "Do you want your life or your property?"

When Niu Jinxing saw Li Guo yelling at him so arrogantly, his self-esteem was hurt, and he also yelled: "You are the queen, leave your seat, what are you doing here? Now, don't you have to cross the Yellow River? Are you in a hurry?" What's the rush?"

Li Guo saw Niu Jinxing put on the airs of a prime minister, without saying a word, he brought his own soldiers and came to bring Niu Jinxing's furniture and belongings among the peasants, and shouted: "Throw everything into the ditch for me! These few days Such a big guy, smashed it for me!"

When the folk husband heard this, he really relieved his hatred, and Li Guo's words ended. As soon as they put the things away, the big beds, chests, tables and chairs suddenly became shattered.Even a few pickers of silver threw their baskets into the river, and thousands of taels of silver reached the bottom of the river like this.

Li Guo ignored Niu Jinxing's staring eyes, turned around and patted his horse away.

After solving the problem of the prime minister, the luggage of other officials can be easily solved. All the pots and jars should be thrown away. In this way, Azig's Qing soldiers did not catch up with Li Zicheng's main force before crossing the Yellow River.

Once across the Yellow River, Li Laiheng quickly organized the Yellow River defense line.

Back in Chang'an, Li Zicheng didn't feel at ease. The Qing soldiers led by Azig had already overwhelmed him, and Li Guo blocked the enemy in the area of ​​the Yellow River.

(Note: Azige was born in the 33rd year of Wanli, the No. 12 son of Qing Taizu Nurhachi. A famous general in the Qing Dynasty. In the first year of Chongde, he was promoted to the king of Wuying County, and in the first year of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty, he was named Prince He Shuoying. The regent Dorgon was in In the Battle of Shanhaiguan, he was the vanguard and defeated the Dashun army. Then he was appointed as the general of Jingyuan. He led more than 3 Manchu, Mongolian, and Han troops including Wu Sangui, King of Pingxi, and Shang Kexi, King of Zhishun, to pursue Li Zicheng to Shaanxi.)
Back to Chang'an.Li Zicheng was like a dream. From his triumphant expedition to Beijing all the way, to his flight to Chang'an in panic, in just over three months, everything was like a dream.

He remembered that in January of the first year of Dashun (the 17th year of Chongzhen), he marched east to Beijing. On March 29, he successfully captured the outer city of Beijing. Then, he sent Du Xun, the eunuch who surrendered in Changping, into the city to fight Chongzhen secretly negotiated, hoping that Chongzhen would become Zen, and the Forbidden City fell on March 21.During this period, his plans were realized very smoothly.Just as he was about to ascend to the throne, news came that Wu Sangui had no intention of surrendering and that he was likely to join forces with the Manchus, so he had no choice but to conquer Shanhaiguan himself.On April 26, he fought Wu Sangui in a stone battle. Unexpectedly, when he was about to win, the Qing soldiers suddenly appeared on the battlefield, the main general Liu Zongmin was injured, and the Dashun army was defeated. On the 29th, he fled to the capital, and the battle left him with only [-] men.Afterwards, the Qing soldiers stepped hard, and on the [-]th he had to proclaim himself emperor in Beijing in a hurry, and then retreated.

Looking back now, Li Zicheng realized that not only did he make a major mistake in decision-making, but it also seemed that God's will did not favor him so much.He thought, if he listened to Li Yan and Li Laiheng's dissuasion before conquering Beijing, and was not in a hurry to capture Beijing; Eager to extort their money; if, be more strategic with Wu Sangui, especially don't touch his women; if, before the Eastern Expedition, heeded Li Laiheng's prediction and thought that the Qing soldiers might enter the customs from Shanhaiguan; if alas, too many If yes.

Unfortunately, it was too late.The most bitter fruit in the world is if.

Now, the Qing soldiers have entered the customs in large numbers. It is no longer like the Chongzhen era. They just harassed and looted. This time, they are going to focus their living space on the Central Plains.In the future, there are still many things to do, and some things must be done first.Last time, some meritorious officials were originally rewarded in Beijing, but due to time constraints and haste when Beijing ascended to the throne, there was no time to reward some unentrusted people, so now I have to make up a formality in Chang'an.

Li Zicheng readjusted the positions of some people and bestowed titles on some people.Among them, Li Guo was named Haohou.Let's talk about the prince later.Luo Hu is dead, and he was posthumously named the Marquis of Yong.

Just when Li Zicheng was a little stable in Xi'an, Beijing was once again besieged by Dorgon's main force.

Originally, the Qing soldiers entered the customs under the banner of avenging Emperor Chongzhen, but now, he no longer pretended to say so, so he planned to kill the three sons of Emperor Chongzhen.

However, a serious problem arose. The person Dorgon sent to kill the three princes of Chongzhen came back to report that, except for the prince, the other two princes were rescued.The person who rescued them was the man surnamed Zhang who rescued them from the Forbidden City.

(End of this chapter)