Page 301
Page 301
If all the people in the capital died, what kind of emperor would Li Zicheng still be?
It was the change brought about by Zhao Han. There was not enough food in the south, so how could it be allowed to be transported to the north?There was no transportation of grain from the north to the north, and years of famines in Henan and Shandong made it impossible for Beijing to obtain commercial grain from other provinces.
"We still have to fight!" Li Zicheng called Liu Zongmin and the military adviser.
Niu Jinxing said: "Northern Zhili still has soldiers from Jizhen. Maybe we can recruit Hong Chengchou and Ma Ke, the commander-in-chief of Shanhaiguan. Order Ma Ke to guard Shanhaiguan, and we will take Hong Chengchou to Shandong to destroy Zuo Liangyu. Maybe you can get a lot of military rations. It’s best to go all the way south and fight to Jianghuai, Jianghuai is the real place of wealth.”
"Just do it like this!" Li Zicheng made a final decision.
If you don't go south, you are waiting to die. The Dashun army starved to death!
Therefore, Li Zicheng sent people to recruit Hong Chengchou and Ma Ke, and at the same time made intensive preparations for his enthronement.
After ascending the throne, you have to fight.
Just like Zhang Xianzhong chose to attack Zhao Han, Li Zicheng's ultimate goal was also Zhao Han. They were all rushing for food - in the whole world, except for the southwestern provinces, only Zhao Han's territory had food!
These poor ghosts are very likely to join forces to attack Zhao Han.
Because Zhao Han belongs to the big boss, after killing it, he can explode the food.
……
Sun Chuanting walked out of the prison in a daze. His imprisonment had nothing to do with Chongzhen, but was simply implicated by the aftermath of the party struggle.
Getting out of prison this time is also very miraculous. The officials in the prison were all arrested and tortured.
Sun Chuanting didn't even have a mansion in Beijing, where could he hide his money?
It wasn't because of how honest Sun Chuanting was that he was sent to Shaanxi as a governor to suppress thieves before he had time to buy a house in Beijing.From then on, he fought east and west, and every time he returned to Beijing, he led troops to serve the king. The only two exceptions were when he returned to Beijing and went to jail.
In the end, when he served as the governor, the court couldn't even pay the military salary. Where did Sun Chuanting get corrupted?
After being tortured, Sun Chuanting confessed truthfully. It seems that the torturers felt that it was outrageous, so they let him go.
The rich and powerful families in the capital cried bitterly.
Sun Chuanting was penniless, so he could only find friends to help him.As a result, after visiting the door, I found that most of my friend's family died tragically, all of them were tortured to death. There were several coffins parked in the courtyard, and there was no money to hire someone to bury them.
The people in the capital were also miserable. It was true that there was no military disaster, but Li Zicheng raided a large number of grain merchants, which caused the price of grain in the capital to skyrocket again.
Six taels of silver and one stone of rice, who can afford it?
Dead bodies can be seen everywhere on the street, and some people even steal the bodies home to eat.
very hungry.
Sun Chuanting was about to faint from hunger. He couldn't get enough to eat in prison, and he was handcuffed without food for a whole day.
With scars all over his body, he walked towards Beicheng District in a daze. There was a friend of Sun Chuanting there, and he might be lucky enough to get a bite to eat.
After finally reaching the destination, Sun Chuanting stood outside the door and could hear the wailing inside.
It seems that there is no food to eat.
Sun Chuanting went in to pay homage and asked about the situation before he learned more about the officials.
Only a very small number of officials committed suicide by martyrdom, and some hid at home and refused to submit. Most officials fled to the new emperor.However, there is no difference, they will all be tortured, and countless people have been beaten to death these days.
Staggering away from his friend's house, Sun Chuanting didn't know where he was going.
In a daze, he walked into an alley, and several thin-faced men ran past him.
These people came to a small courtyard and began to chatter there.
"It's here. The previous owner was named Deng Xin. He went to the south to join relatives a year ago. A woman came here a few days ago, holding a baby. I heard that she bought a few catties of sorghum."
"How many catties of sorghum are there? Can she keep it alone?"
"This woman is very fierce. She carries a knife with her. She seems to be a practicing family. Wu Er grabbed food and was killed by her."
"No matter how powerful she is, she's just a single woman. If we stand shoulder to shoulder, we will definitely be able to restrain her."
"Her few catties of sorghum are probably almost finished. I don't know if there is any money left."
"Go in and talk."
"..."
Sun Chuanting panicked from hunger, and the scars all over his body had not yet healed.He didn't know what to do, seeing a group of villains doing bad things, he just strode over to stop them.
"Leave far away!"
Before Sun Chuanting could speak, the group of gangsters became fierce towards him instead.
"Collide!"
The courtyard door was bolted inside, and these guys stepped back a few steps, trying to knock the courtyard door open with all their strength.
"boom!"
Seven or eight times in a row, the gate of the courtyard fell down, and several gangsters couldn't stand still, and fell into the courtyard along with the gate.
"what!"
"Forgive me!"
Before these guys stood up, a woman with disheveled hair was slashing with a waist knife, and the sound of a baby crying came from the room.
"What a neat skill!"
Sun Chuanting clapped his hands in praise, rushed over to snatch the stick, and swung the stick to flank the woman back and forth.
Chapter 364 [Manchu troops sent out]
Sun Chuanting drank less than half of the last bowl of sorghum porridge, and then sat in the courtyard and wandered away.
Concubine Tian Gui was breastfeeding the child in the house, she did not dare to reveal her identity, even though Sun Chuanting had just offered to help.
"Da da da da!"
There was the sound of horseshoes in the alley, and some officials rode their horses and shouted along the way: "Your Majesty has an order. All the squares in Beijing will implement the Baojia Law. From tomorrow onwards, the price of grain will be stabilized. Each square will supply grain according to the amount of Baojia! Officials below the third rank of the Ming Dynasty, or Those who have been dismissed from their posts and are willing to submit to the new dynasty will be selected as officials immediately!"
Sun Chuanting was a little surprised that Li Zicheng was short of food, so he sold food to the people at a low price and limited quota.
As soon as this policy comes out, the Beijing city that is about to collapse will be able to restore order immediately.
"Master Sun." Concubine Tian Gui shouted from inside the room.
Sun Chuanting asked: "Which family is Madam, have you ever seen me?"
Concubine Tian Gui said: "Although you and I have never met, but Governor Sun reported his name just now, then we recognize each other. Please come in and talk to Governor Sun."
Sun Chuanting stepped into the room, and the baby had already fallen asleep after feeding.
"This is His Majesty's youngest son, who has not yet reached a hundred days." Concubine Tian Gui said.
"what?"
Sun Chuanting was startled suddenly, and quickly asked, "Do you have proof?"
Concubine Tian Gui said: "I'm in a hurry to leave the palace, and I don't have a certificate."
Sun Chuanting frowned, doubtful.
Concubine Tian took out the bamboo flute: "This flute is made of jade bamboo inlaid with gold. In the whole north, only a few are planted in the imperial palace."
After glancing at the bamboo flute, Sun Chuanting basically believed it.
Sun Chuanting did not ask Concubine Tian Gui's identity, but only said: "What does Madam want me to do?"
Concubine Tian Gui said: "A rebel official passed by just now. Officials below the third rank, or officials who have been dismissed, can be recruited on a merit basis. I am taking the liberty to invite Sun Dushi to be an official in the puppet dynasty."
Sun Chuanting became more and more puzzled: "Why?"
"I have no money to buy food, and Sun Dushi has no money to buy food. It is important to save the life of the prince." Tian Guifei's reason is very simple.
"Okay!" Sun Chuanting immediately agreed.
Sun Chuanting immediately left with Concubine Tian, and the two agreed on their identity relationship, saying that Concubine Tian, mother and son, were Sun Chuanting's old relatives.
After reporting his name, Sun Chuanting was quickly received by Li Zicheng.
In fact, Li Zicheng has been busy meeting various people.He even went to the suburbs in person, communicated with the elderly nearby, and promised that he would be exempted from taxes for three years.
There are also a large number of shabby officials in Beijing, who have no chance to embezzle, and all of them are poor.
These poor officials were promoted and appointed by Li Zicheng, and they were also released to take over the prefectures and counties.Give a sum of travel expenses and food, let officials promote the policy, and say that the land tax will be exempted for the next three years.
Since you want to ascend the throne and proclaim yourself emperor, you have to hold a grand ceremony.
If you want to hold a grand ceremony, you must have a large number of civil servants, otherwise the ceremony process will not be clear.
Li Zicheng quickly restructured and set up a cabinet with Niu Jinxing as the head and assistant.
The Imperial Academy was changed to the Hongwen Museum, the six departments were changed to the Six Governments, and the six departments were changed to the Six Governments' Admonitions.
Hou Fangyu's father, Hou Xun, has been appointed Minister of the Military Government, that is, Minister of the Ministry of War.
Hou Xun was forcibly recruited in his hometown, he hugged grass and beat rabbits, and Hou Fangyu was also recruited.If you don't follow the thief, you can't do it, otherwise you will be copied and killed!
Sun Chuanting volunteered to serve and was immediately appointed as the left servant of the military government.
Even, Sun Chuanting was given a mansion, allowing him to temporarily live in the confiscated Xungui's home.
Then a series of decrees were issued, and at the same time vigorously rectified the law and order in the capital.Several Dashun soldiers who were forced to buy and sell were beheaded in public. The already very good military discipline instantly became equal to Zhao Han's Datong army.
Sun Chuanting was very shocked by this, but soon disappointed again.
The civil officials under Li Zicheng's command are actually decorations, because the principle of employing officials is "to control the text with force".Sun Chuanting's position is similar to the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War, but he can only assist in the management of ordnance, and cannot intervene in military issues at all.
In order to show his generosity, Li Zicheng even appointed Bian Dashou as the magistrate of Daxing County.
Bian Dashou dug Li Zicheng's ancestral grave!
……
"Your Majesty, good news, Hong Chengchou and Ma Ke are willing to lead their troops back!"
"Okay, it's a great thing!"
Li Zicheng was very happy. On the second day of his enthronement, Jizhen and Shanhaiguan all surrendered.
It really is destiny!
On Hong Chengchou's side, some generals still had doubts.
For example, Cao Bianjiao, who almost killed Li Zicheng, worried that he would be retaliated against in the future.
When the news of Bian Dashou's appointment as magistrate came, Cao Bianjiao immediately let go of his worries.He could surrender, but he refused to give up his military power. The two sides bargained, and the deal was quickly made.
More than 2 Jizhen soldiers and [-] Shanhaiguan soldiers became Li Zicheng's subordinates.
It seems to be complete, but in fact there are many problems.
The [-] elite troops that Li Zicheng brought to Beijing were indeed strict in military discipline.But the rest of the troops were either recruited rebels or surrendered Ming troops, and their military discipline, morale, and combat effectiveness were in a mess.
At the beginning of May, Li Zicheng officially opened a course to obtain a scholar, allowing scholars in Beijing to directly enter the Jinshi examination.
At this moment, Ma Ke sent an urgent military message: "The Mandarin slaves are approaching Shanhaiguan. Shanhaiguan is short of food and grass, and morale is low. I beg your majesty to send troops to rescue!"
There are a large number of Manchu and Qing masterpieces in Beizhili. After the fall of Beijing, Huang Taiji immediately dispatched troops in a hurry.
Huang Taiji personally led the main force to approach Shanhaiguan, Haoge and Dorgon each led the division, and invaded from Lengkou and Xifengkou respectively.
Li Zicheng, who was planning to march south, had to mobilize troops to deal with the Manchus.
Li Zicheng attached great importance to this, and specially appointed a "Shanhaiguan Defense Envoy" to go to Shanhaiguan to supervise and guide Ma Ke's work.
The defender's name is Zhang Ruoqi.
The world line seems to have come to an end. In history, Wu Sangui guarded Shanhaiguan, and Li Zicheng also sent Zhang Ruoqi to serve as the defense envoy of Shanhaiguan.
Regardless of whether he really attached himself or not, Sun Chuanting couldn't just sit idly by and ran to see Li Zicheng overnight: "Your Majesty, Zhang Ruoqi doesn't know soldiers and likes to corrupt and seize power. You must not send him to defend Shanhaiguan!"
"I know you have a grudge against him. Don't get me involved with the party disputes of Ming Dynasty." Li Zicheng reprimanded.
Sun Chuanting hesitated to speak, he was completely selfish towards Li Zicheng, and was ready to take the prince south at any time.
Zhang Ruoqi was appointed and immediately set off for Shanhaiguan.
One operation made the Shanhaiguan soldiers complain.
Fortunately, Li Zicheng was born as a soldier, leaving only a small number of troops to garrison Beijing, leaving more than 6 elite troops, including Shanhaiguan soldiers, a total of 8.
On Huang Taiji's side, there are only 30 troops, including [-] civilian husbands.
SFS