With a click, the chess pieces landed lightly on the chessboard. The chess game was about to reach a point of inextricability. However, the two people playing chess seemed to be just a pair of stinky chess pieces. Because of the place where they placed the chess pieces.

All in the middle, large black and white chess pieces were strangled together, but the pieces were scattered everywhere, and the territory in the corners seemed to be completely ignored.

The two people who are playing chess are the Emperor Chongzhen and the Prince of Fujun, Zhu Cixiang. The relationship between the two fathers and sons has improved recently. Zhu Cixiang, who has a lot of money, sends gifts to Emperor Chongzhen every now and then, all of which are obtained from the homes of the four Huaiyang Salt Managers.

Good treasures, some are produced in China and some are imported from the West.

Emperor Chongzhen’s favorite thing was Western clocks! This thing was a black technology thing in the late Ming Dynasty! High-quality things made by Western watch masters were very expensive. How could the stingy Emperor Chongzhen be willing to buy one? And he was also afraid of people saying

He was so obsessed with playing with things that he didn't even dare to play with the Wanli calendar collected in the palace and the Western clocks he got during the Apocalypse.

But how can the clocks from Wanli and Tianqi be compared with those from Yangzhou salt merchants? There is no comparison at all

Moreover, Chongzhen is now indulging himself and is not afraid of people saying that he is demoralized. The more dejected he is, the safer he is!

So I have no worries and can play whatever I like!

While slowly becoming depressed, Emperor Chongzhen still did not give up the idea of ​​returning to power. In order to one day lead the Ming Dynasty to resurgence, Emperor Chongzhen not only used depression to protect himself, but also quietly learned his son's methods of governing the country.

Although Zhu Cixiang was treacherous and cruel, his methods were still very powerful! Not only did he firmly grasp the military and financial power, but he was also able to control a group of ministers, corrupt officials, rebels, profiteers and warlords with ulterior motives!

Although there are basically no good people in the court he controls except for the emptied Holy Emperor, that is, Chongzhen himself, we have to admit that under the governance of this group of bad guys, the Ming Dynasty does have signs of a renaissance.

Is it true that the best way to govern a country is to use bad people?

Just when Emperor Chongzhen was playing chess with his son and comprehending the ways of governing the country, another bad guy named Li Yan walked in under the guidance of Feng Sizhong. Before he could salute, he was seen by Zhu Cixiang.

"Here comes the military advisor? No need to salute. Come and talk to Pang Banban. Move a chair for the military advisor."

Zhu Cixiang was not polite at all. He did not regard himself as the crown prince at all, but directly made the decision for Emperor Chongzhen. He also ordered Daxun Pang Tianshou, who served Emperor Chongzhen, to do things.

This Pang Tianshou was originally a member of the Royal Horse Prison. He was working in Nanjing before the fall of Beijing. Therefore, he was not Zhu Cihong's person. When Chongzhen and Zhu Cihong arrived in Yangzhou, he came from Nanjing to join them.

Zhu Cixiang was very generous and did not doubt him, so he asked him to serve Chongzhen instead of Cao Huachun, who complained endlessly. Cao Huachun was used to enjoying himself and could no longer serve others! Moreover, he was now also a hero in overcoming difficulties. He was granted the title of Jing Haibo for overcoming difficulties, and he was also regarded as a hero.

What eunuch?

Li Yan didn't hesitate and just sat down on the chair brought by Eunuch Pang, which made Emperor Chongzhen frown.

How could such a robber and scholar become a military advisor without any rules? Shouldn't a military advisor be like Zhuge Liang? How could a bandit be allowed to become a military advisor?

"Commander, what's going on over there in Runing?"

It turns out that on his way south from Yanzhou, Zhu Cixi sent the Red Lady, Feng San and Chen Yingyuan to Runing Prefecture, bringing with them 2,000 Ke Nanxin troops, 300,000 taels of silver, as well as the remnants of the rogue bandits in Zhao'an Runing Prefecture and the Dabie Mountain Bandits.

of the decree.

Runing Mansion was once occupied by Li Zicheng's people, but now Li Zicheng was shrinking his troops and preparing for a decisive battle with the Qing army, so Runing Mansion, which was considered a scrap for Dashun, gradually gave up.

"Master Qiansui," Li Yan said with a smile, "the bandits south of the Huaihe River are almost gone. Now Gushi, Guangzhou, Shangcheng, Guangshan, Luoshan and Xinyang are all in our hands! If the Tang Dynasty can conquer the vassal as soon as possible,

Runing's mansion will soon be stable!"

Zhu Cixiang nodded and suddenly turned his gaze to Emperor Chongzhen, who was studying the chess game with his head down: "Father, what do you think?"

"What?" Chongzhen was stunned and looked up at his son.

Zhu Cixiang smiled and said, "Father, do you think we should let the King of Tang go to Runing to become a vassal?"

Chongzhen was stunned again and again: I haven't been ignored by Nizi, so how can I still care about the Tang Dynasty king? Is Nizi testing me?

"You don't need to ask me about this," Chongzhen said, "Brother, just make the decision."

Chongzhen can now cheat and pretend not to care about politics.

Of course Zhu Cixi understood that this foolish father was pretending, and smiled and said: "The matter of canonizing a vassal king is not a trivial matter, and it still requires an imperial edict from the father. Besides, Runing, where Tang Fan is going this time, is extremely important to half of the Ming Dynasty.

, almost the same as Denglai. As long as Runing is not lost and Denglai is not destroyed, the defense of Jianghuai will be impregnable!"

"Really?" Emperor Chongzhen was noncommittal.

Zhu Cixiang picked up a chess piece, lightly knocked on the chessboard in front of him, and said: "The defense of the Jianghuai River is just like the chess game in front of me. Fengyang, Huai'an, Xuzhou, and Yangzhou are the middle sections. They look extremely important, but the real decision is

But the place of victory and defeat is in the corner! That is, Denglai, Xiangyang, and Runing. Now that Denglai is solid and stable, and there is Lu Fan sitting on Mount Taiyi, there is no danger. But Xiangyang is in the hands of rogue bandits, and it is not safe for the time being.

There is no way to recover. So Runing and Wuchang have become barriers to guard the flanks of the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers. Once they are lost, the Northern Army will move down the river and reach Jinling!"

"Is it that important?" Emperor Chongzhen frowned.

His foolish king is "pretending", he can't just watch half of the vassal screen in the south of the Yangtze River be lost!

"Your Majesty," Li Yan on the side took over Emperor Chongzhen's question and explained, "Runing relies on Dabie and the Huai River. The terrain is difficult and the people have always been strong. A lot of the so-called Huaixi warriors come from you.

Ning area. If Runing is in the hands of the imperial court and guarded by the vassal king, then Huaixi's elite soldiers can be owned by the country, and the Dabie Mountains can become the country's barriers. Even if the thieves come down the river from Fuhan, Xiangyang,

He will be controlled by Runing's soldiers and cannot let go.

Moreover, Runing's soldiers can not only defend, but also attack! Runing Prefecture belongs to Henan, with Kaifeng Prefecture to the north and Nanyang Prefecture to the west. If there are 20,000 soldiers in Runing, then Kaifeng and Nanyang will

The enemy will have trouble sleeping!"

"Father, as long as the Tang Dynasty can control Runing, the western front of the Jianghuai River will be safe!" Zhu Cixiang said with a smile, "And if Denglai and Taiyi are not lost, the eastern front of the Jianghuai River will be safe. East, west

Only when both fronts are secure can we enjoy peace and prosperity in Nanjing!"

What? Do you want to enjoy it in Nanjing now? Chongzhen was a little disappointed, but he still nodded, "In that case, I will give the order."

He spoke very slowly and looked at Zhu Cihong furtively.

To be honest, he really wanted to declare his existence!

Emperor Chongzhen has seen that Zhu Cixiang is not an ordinary rebellious son, but a rebellious son of Li Shimin's level! If he is allowed to control the government for a long time and does not let himself, a wise emperor, speak out, it will not take long for the people of the world to forget his existence.

Zhu Cixiang smiled: "The king of the Tang Dynasty had to be escorted by honorable ministers to make it appear grand!"

"Oh," Chongzhen nodded, "Who do you want to go?"

"I want Huaiyuan Hou Chang Yanling and Chengyi Bo Liu Kongzhao to escort the Tang Dynasty king to the vassal state." Zhu Cixiang said with a smile, "Chang Yanling is already in Yangzhou, but Liu Kongzhao is still in Nanjing. My father might as well follow the decree and let him come to Yangzhou.

Let’s meet you.”

What? An alarm bell rang in Emperor Chongzhen’s heart! It turned out that Nizi wanted to use the Tang king to seize the vassal and disintegrate the loyal ministers in Nanjing!

Zhu Cixiang looked at his cheap father and said with a smile: "Father, do you really want to watch the imperial court and Nanjing nobles meet each other in battle?

Our Ming Dynasty is now in the critical autumn, and we cannot have internal strife anymore! Now the court is obviously in the upper hand, and the nobles and ministers of Nanjing are at a disadvantage. However, the ministers have always been merciful, and as long as they are willing to bow their heads, they can forget the past.

"
Chapter completed!