Chapter 58: Build walls high, store grain widely, and slowly become king?
In the meeting hall where Li Zicheng, king of the Zhougong Temple intruder, lived in the west of Luoyang City, Li Zicheng remained silent, listening to everyone's heated debate.
He also noticed that Liu Zongmin, Gao Yigong, Tian Jianxiu and Li Yan did not express opinions on everyone's disputes, but listened to everyone's arguments with interest.
But when someone asked about their opinions, they all said that they had not considered it clearly. They also said that such a big matter was best decided by King Chuang himself after everyone discussed it.
King Chuang also noticed that both Yuan Zongdi and Li Guo agreed to fight back to Guanzhong, capture Xi'an, and then use Guanzhong as the base. However, if everyone thinks that the time is ripe, they might as well ask King Chuang to claim the throne in Luoyang first, and then take Guanzhong.
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The discussion continued from dusk until dusk, but still could not reach a unanimous opinion. King Chuang Li Zicheng was not in a hurry. He asked everyone to suspend the debate and continue the discussion after dinner.
The banquets in the evening were held at two places: Zhougong Temple and Li Yan's mansion, so Li Yan had to go back to his mansion to entertain the guests.
When he was about to leave Zhougong Temple, Li Zicheng pulled him to a secluded place in the courtyard and asked softly: "Lin Quan, during today's discussion, you did not express your position. I wonder what you think of everyone's proposals?"
Li Yan also replied in a low voice: "Everyone is very enthusiastic in making suggestions today, all out of loyalty to King Chuang. I didn't say much during the discussion, just because I suddenly remembered what Zhu Sheng once said to Zhu Hongwu.
Nine words, I can’t help but think about them over and over again.”
Li Zicheng hurriedly asked: "Who is Zhu Sheng?"
When Li Yan saw King Chuang's interest, he patiently explained: "Zhu Sheng was originally a Confucian scholar from Huizhou. He was very knowledgeable. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, he was unwilling to become an official.
But later, Zhu Hongwu led his troops to capture Huizhou, and then he solemnly invited him to come out and asked him about his plan to conquer the world. Zhu Sheng only answered him with nine words, but it was very important.
Later, Zhu Hongwu followed these nine words and achieved great success. It has been more than 200 years since the establishment of the Ming Dynasty."
When Li Zicheng heard what Li Yan said, he couldn't help but asked eagerly: "Which nine characters are they?"
"Build walls high, accumulate grain widely, and become king slowly!" Li Yan said word by word while looking at the king of Chu, Li Zicheng.
"Um?"
Li Yan saw that there was still some suspicion on King Chuang's face, so he hurriedly explained further: "The meaning of these nine characters is to consolidate the foundation first, and then comfort the people and reward farmers and mulberry with enough
The purpose of eating enough soldiers and delaying the title of king is to avoid attracting too much attention from the court, and also to avoid causing dissociation among brothers and making myself the target of public criticism."
After Li Zicheng thought for a while, he nodded to Li Yan with a smile and said, "I completely understand what you mean!"
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As soon as Li Yan left, the commander-in-chief Liu Zongmin came to see King Chuang. But before he could speak, Li Zicheng began to ask him what his opinion was on the debate during the afternoon meeting.
Liu Zongmin smiled and replied: "Are you asking for my opinion? To be honest, Brother Li, I don't have a certain opinion on these important matters. After everyone has discussed it, it is better for you to make the decision, Brother Li.
I'm actually thinking about where we should go next and some important things in Luoyang right now."
Li Zicheng hurriedly asked: "What do you mean...?"
Liu Zongmin said at this time: "I am chasing you out now, and I really have two things to ask Brother Li for your instructions.
The first thing is that we have now recruited 70,000 to 80,000 new soldiers, and more and more hungry people are joining the army. It is estimated that in the next few days, we will probably recruit 10,000 to 200,000 people.
Thanks to us conquering a big city like Luoyang, we don't have to worry about money and food for the time being.
But now Buzhi and Hanju only had two hundred elite soldiers left in their hands, and the rest were divided and sent to lead the new brothers. The small soldiers were promoted to bosses, and the small bosses were promoted to big bosses.
Some old brothers, cough, have been promoted to three levels in a row!
Now the elite troops in Luoyang have not been broken up. There are only 2,000 people in the central camp led by Zhang Nai. Although there are still 700 people in Mr. Li's place, his 700 people are divided into several places, and they only take care of them every day.
We can't go to war even though we are doing relief work.
If we need to use military force recently, wouldn't we be fooled?
Now, if the newly recruited brothers here in Luoyang don't go through several months of training, they will all be a mob, and they will be useless in a war!
Do you think this is not a very important matter?"
Li Zicheng knew that what Liu Zongmin said was the truth, and he said: "Yes, Jiexuan, you are right to remind me and it is timely. This matter cannot be delayed. We must come up with a solution as soon as possible."
Liu Zongmin then said: "Just a few days ago, a force from Liu Mingyuan's side had already captured Lingbao County, which was enough to give the Tongguan troops some color.
Originally, Brother Li, you sent him to the Lingbao area just to confuse the officers and soldiers in Shaanxi and Henan, so that they could not figure out our whereabouts after we conquered Yongning, so that we could capture Luoyang by surprise.
Mingyuan has now reached the area between Shaanzhou and Mianchi, and is planning to attack Mianchi. Since we have defeated Luoyang, I think we will transfer Mingyuan's team back to Luoyang at night, what do you think?"
Li Zicheng also thought for a while before saying: "Okay, let's go with your idea on this matter and quickly transfer Mingyuan's team back to Xingye. The sooner the better."
He thought for a while and then said: "The only effective soldiers under Mingyuan are the two or three thousand old soldiers. We still need to quickly transfer them from the Shengzhai Village. We will use these soldiers tonight."
The matter has been discussed, but there can be no further delay."
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After attending the dinner at Zhougong Temple, Li Zicheng took advantage of the time for discussion to go to the courtyard where his wife Gao Guiying lived. He had developed the habit over the years that whenever he was in doubt, he would go to Gao Guiying.
Chat.
Gao Guiying was originally the niece of the old king Gao Yingxiang, and she had followed Li Zicheng in the war for many years. She was a hero among women. Although she followed the ancient saying that "women should not participate in politics", she was secretly the only one who could discuss with Li Zicheng when he was hesitant.
object.
The courtyard where Mrs. Gao lived was originally the residence of a wealthy man, but now it is connected to the backyard of Zhougong Temple.
At this time, Mrs. Gao had just sent away several visiting female guests. When she saw King Chuang coming in, she couldn't help but ask Li Zicheng first: "I heard that you are discussing about establishing the capital of Luoyang and becoming the king. Is it true?
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Li Zicheng asked: "Who came in to talk to you?"
"Shuangxi and Xiao Naozi came over excitedly just now and specifically talked to me about this matter. Then Yigong also came to ask me about something else. I asked him and he also said that they were discussing it." Mrs. Gao replied.
When Li Zicheng was discussing the matter, Gao Yigong did not express his position, so he asked: "Does Yigong have any opinions?"
Mrs. Gao said: "He said that he and Bu Zhidu thought it was too early, and didn't say anything else."
Li Zicheng attached great importance to the opinion of "it's too early". Seeing the serious look on Mrs. Gao's face, he hurriedly asked: "What do you think?"