Chapter 155: Please transfer Zhang Cheng to help Liaodong
The next day, Emperor Chongzhen summoned Chen Xinjia and Fu Zonglong in Wenhua Hall.
When they arrived upon summons, Emperor Chongzhen was using a red pen to revise the sacrificial inscriptions drafted by the Ministry of Rites. After he finished revising the sacrificial inscriptions and put them down, he said to the eunuchs beside him: "Ask them to come in."
After Chen Xinjia and Fu Zonglong entered the palace and kowtowed, Chongzhen ordered them to stand up and speak. He looked at Fu Zonglong carefully and saw that although his temples and beard had become much whiter after being imprisoned, he was still in good spirits.
Chongzhen said to him: "Because of your guilt, I sent you to prison as a light punishment. Nowadays, the country has many crimes, so I released you and asked you to serve as the governor of Shaanxi and the three sides.
This is my special favor. You should be grateful so that you can try your best to kill the thieves to make up for your past mistakes. After you succeed, I will not hesitate to reward you generously."
Fu Zonglong knelt down and kowtowed again with excitement, and said with tears in his eyes: "Severe frost and rain, could it be the emperor's favor? When I go to the army, I vow to encourage the soldiers and take it as my duty to exterminate the intruders, so as to comfort the emperor and bring peace to the people."
My minister, Fu Zonglong, is willing to be shattered into pieces to live up to the emperor’s kindness of knowing me!”
Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said: "Okay, very good. After you take office in Shaanxi, when do you estimate that you can lead troops into Henan to wipe out the intruders?"
Fu Zonglong replied without hesitation: "After I arrive in Xi'an, I will consider the actual situation and then make a strategy."
However, Emperor Chongzhen was impatient. He subconsciously put his hands together and rubbed them together, and then said: "I hope you will rush to Xi'an as soon as possible. After a while, you will lead your troops into Henan within two months and meet with the governor Yang Wenyue."
Work together to conquer the enemy.
I hope you will do your best to serve the king and do not stay in the pass for too long, which may delay the war."
Although Fu Zonglong was afraid that the emperor would suddenly become angry and arrest him and imprison him again, he knew that it would be difficult to send troops to Henan Province within two months, so he could only bravely say: "Although I am determined to serve the country, I am afraid that the soldiers need to be trained before they can do it."
It’s good to enter Henan and fight.”
Emperor Chongzhen gave him a stern look and said in a deep voice: "Shaanxi has ready-made troops and horses. Soldiers and horses are stationed on the three sides. Don't they usually drill them? Don't wait for Li Zicheng to gain a firm foothold in Henan before sending troops.
!”
Fu Zonglong knew in his heart that most of the military training in various towns was in name only, and the number of soldiers was seriously insufficient. However, seeing the impatient look on Chongzhen's face, he had no choice but to kneel on the ground and bow his head in silence.
Emperor Chongzhen was silent for a moment, thinking that Fu Zonglong had been persuaded by him, and then said in a gentle tone: "You are a minister who knows the military, and I know it all. The Donglu have besieged Jinzhou for a long time, and I have to send heavy troops outside the customs.
It is still unclear whether the crisis in Jinzhou can be resolved as soon as possible. The situation in Henan, Huguang, Shandong and other provinces is very bad, especially in Henan and Chu. They have lost famous cities and sacrificed their vassals for their country.
Do you have any good ideas to alleviate my worries?"
Fu Zonglong hurriedly kowtowed and replied: "When I was in prison, I was often deeply worried about the country. Although I had some foolish opinions, I didn't dare to tell them."
Emperor Chongzhen rolled his eyes and said: "If you want to benefit the country, you might as well tell me directly."
Seeing Emperor Chongzhen's behavior, Fu Zonglong said without hesitation: "At present, suppressing bandits internally and defending powerful captives externally, using troops on both sides is not a blessing to the country.
However, the civil servants in the DPRK and China are talking too much and are completely ineffective, leading to today's situation of internal and external difficulties. If this continues, in a few years, the country's situation will be unimaginable.
It’s not that we have nothing to do today, but no one dares to speak to His Majesty.”
Chongzhen's heart moved. He seemed to have guessed the meaning of Fu Zonglong's words, but he still asked: "Just tell me, don't be shy."
Fu Zonglong said: "Your Majesty is the eternal hero, please show me how foolish and loyal I am, and then I dare to speak out my foolish opinions to save the country."
Emperor Chongzhen looked at Fu Zonglong and said with some hope: "You have been released from prison today and are now my ministers. If you have good suggestions, I will listen to them with an open mind. If I am wrong, I will never offend you."
.But it doesn’t matter!”
Fu Zonglong knelt down and kowtowed again, and said in a low voice: "In my humble opinion, if we can temporarily appease the Eastern captives, it would be the best policy. Only when things slow down a little can we mobilize the country's military and financial resources to crush the traitors."
.”
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen said softly "Ah". He looked at Chen Xinjia with some confusion, wondering whether he had leaked some information to Fu Zonglong or secretly asked him to make this suggestion.
Thinking of this, Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but glance at Chen Xinjia who was standing next to him. Seeing that he was as usual, his doubts were somewhat relieved, but he asked Fu Zonglong: "Why do you say that pacifying the Donglu is the best strategy? Why don't you elaborate?
What Chen sees is up to my discretion."
Fu Zonglong replied: "Your Majesty, in the past ten years since the Ming Dynasty, we have deployed troops both internally and externally. The country has been exhausted, struggling to support itself, and has almost become an incurable disease. At present, we want to be at home and abroad at the same time. Even with Zhuge Kongming's wisdom, I am afraid that
It’s also impossible to be caught off guard.
Therefore, in view of the ignorance of the humble ministers, it is better to quickly withdraw from the war outside the pass and use all our strength to suppress the bandits. Once the overall situation in the Central Plains is settled, it will not be too late to launch a large-scale attack on the eastern captives."
After listening to what Fu Zonglong said, Emperor Chongzhen showed no expression on his face. He just said lightly: "I have ordered Hong Chengchou to lead the army out of the pass and rush to the aid of Jinzhou. At present, it is not my fault to negotiate peace with the Donglu and show weakness to the enemy.
original intention.
After you get out, don't mention the word 'discuss' to anyone. Go down!"
…………
After Fu Zonglong kowtowed and exited, Emperor Chongzhen asked Chen Xinjia: "Fu Zonglong also suggested that I should temporarily appease the Donglu. Did he discuss it with Chen Qing beforehand?"
Chen Xinjia was shocked when he heard this. Cold sweat started pouring from his forehead and neck. He felt that all the sweat pores on his body stood up instantly. He quickly knelt down and kowtowed: "Fu Zonglong was just released from prison today. I didn't agree with him before."
He talks about things outside the country."
Emperor Chongzhen nodded calmly and said: "It can be seen that anyone with a little knowledge of military affairs knows the difficulties of fighting on two fronts. Internal and external difficulties are not a long-term solution for the country.
At present, we should urge Hong Chengchou to lead the army out of Guandong and rush to rescue Jinzhou. If we don't first dampen the spirit of the Eastern captives, how can we calm them down? We must urge Hong Chengchou to relieve the siege of Jinzhou as soon as possible!"
Chen Xinjia hurriedly said at the side: "What your Majesty saw is very true. If Hong Chengchou can rescue Jinzhou from the siege, even if he makes peace with Dong Nu, there will be a lot of things to say.
The minister is worried that the move will last for a long time, and the labor and expenses will be exhausted, but it will not be able to rescue Jinzhou from the siege. On the contrary, it will suffer setbacks, and it will be even more difficult to pay. What's more, the country's manpower and material resources are limited. In the future, the imperial court will not want to mobilize so many people from outside the customs.
Soldiers, horses, and so much food and wages, I’m afraid we won’t be able to get them anymore.”
Emperor Chongzhen also said with a heavy look on his face: "I am also quite worried about this. At present, the military affairs outside the Pass seem to be more urgent than the military operations to suppress thieves in Henan and Chu."
Chen Xinjia hurriedly answered: "Yes, it is very urgent. Hong Chengchou also sent a letter to the Ministry of War the day before yesterday, asking for the troops and horses of Zhang Cheng, deputy commander of Xuan Town, to rush to Liaodong."