After Li Song, a close aide of Hong Chengchou, welcomed Mr. Liu at the Hongwa Dian, he rode all the way back to Ninghai City and headed for Chenghai Tower.
Mr. Liu, whose name is Zizheng, is originally from Henan. He is now in his early sixties. His three long beards have turned gray, but his spirit is still very strong and his body and bones are still very strong, which seems different from his age.
proportionate.
From a distance, he saw Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, standing in front of Chenghai Tower with a group of staff and trusted generals to greet him. He quickly dismounted, stepped forward, and bowed.
Hong Chengchou also bowed quickly, then stepped forward and grabbed him, saying, "But I've been waiting for you!"
After he said this, he laughed happily.
Liu Zizheng said apologetically: "I didn't want to leave the capital because I caught a cold wind, but I knew that Governor Hong would soon leave the country to kill the enemy, so I made the effort to come.
I will not stay here long. After talking with the governor, even if I return to the capital, I will still live in seclusion in the monk's dormitory, focusing on closing my door and writing books, and no longer care about worldly affairs."
Hong Chengchou didn't force him to stay. He just held his hand and walked into Chenghai Tower. As he walked, he said, "I'll save these words for later. Please go to Chenghai Tower to rest first."
He pulled Liu Zizheng into the Chenghai Building surrounded by his generals and staff, but he did not rush upstairs. He introduced Liu Zizheng and others in the hall on the first floor, and they exchanged greetings.
Then he sat down and started talking.
After a while, the memorial drafted by the staff had been completed and sent into the hall. After Hong Chengchou briefly read it, he immediately issued this urgent memorial to dispatch troops in advance.
He then invited Liu Zizheng to go upstairs alone, then waved his servant away and had a heart-to-heart talk with him alone.
Hong Chengchou seemed to have countless things to discuss with Liu Zizheng in detail, but he also knew that time was running out, so he first informed Liu Zizheng of the secret order sent from the emperor this morning, urging him to leave the customs as soon as possible. If there was any further delay, he might be convicted.
After Liu Zizheng thought for a moment, he asked him: "Does the governor have any strategy for defeating the enemy and winning the siege of Jinzhou this time?"
Hong Chengchou smiled bitterly and said: "Today's situation is very clear to you and me. The current arrogance and laziness of the troops and the ineffective deployment have been accumulated for many years. Although the student is the governor of Jiliao, he also relies on the power of the Holy Spirit and has the skills.
Even with a sword in hand, it is difficult for all generals to fight vigorously.
From the last years of Wanli to this day, none of the governors and ministers who left the seclusion met a good end. The students who were ordered to leave the seclusion this time could only do their best to serve the king, but they did not dare to think of victory.
Unless we can be allowed to establish a foothold in the Ningyuan area of Liaodong and slowly recover our morale, only when the morale of the army is lifted can we have some hope of victory.
The sending of troops to aid the Jin Dynasty was really the key to the success or failure of the students' lives. Even if they died on the battlefield, they would not complain. The one who was aggrieved was the safety of the imperial court.
What is the future of this battle with Jiannu under the city of Jinzhou? The stakes are extremely high. The success or failure of one student cannot be cherished. If the important affairs of the imperial court are ruined because of this, how will the students see their fathers in their homeland, let alone the emperor? So in their hearts
It’s very heavy, so I’d like to invite you sir for advice.”
Liu Zizheng then said: "What Governor Hong has seen is very true. Let's ignore the situation outside the customs for the moment and focus on the overall situation of the country and the court. Now the court is fighting on both sides against the Tartars and rogue bandits. It is besieged internally and externally. The situation has become extremely dangerous.
Not only is the overall situation outside the pass related to the survival of the country, but why is it not so if the situation within the pass is fierce?
Nowadays, more than 100,000 capable soldiers and horses at home and abroad are all headed for Liaodong. The troops in the pass are already very empty. If the captors succeed, not only will Liaodong have no troops to defend it, but the entire pass will also be in danger.
It's a pity that the princes in the court did not see this, and they only wanted to rush out of the seclusion, making a desperate move, hoping to defeat the slaves in one battle, and completely ignored how to defend the capital's important position!"
Gu Xuan
Hong Chengchou also sighed and said: "The emperor always has good intentions, but he is anxious about everything and thinks ahead instead of behind. The more difficult the situation, the more helpless he feels and the more anxious he becomes.
Sitting in the Qianqing Palace today, I don’t know everything about the situation on the battlefield. I only rely on a few quotes in the newspapers, the secret reports of the supervisors, and the spies from the Jin Yiwei. I think I know the battlefield well and can control the war. Thousands of miles away.
For example, we, the ministers who are governors outside, are easily offended and find it hard to deal with anything. Now that Fu Zonglong has been released from prison, he has been appointed as the governor of Shaanxi and the three sides, and he is dedicated to supervising and suppressing the intruders.
His job is not easy to handle, so his life will not be any better than that of a student."
Liu Zizheng gave an emotional wry smile and said: "Governor Fu went out to Beijing to suppress thieves this time. I think he may not be able to return to Beijing again. This may be the last time he leads troops to fight. If there is no accident, he will definitely be defeated. .”
Hong Chengchou said with a surprised look on his face: "After Fu Yuanxian arrives in Xi'an, if he can train an elite army, he may still be able to suppress bandits."
Liu Zizheng said without thinking: "He also has this intention, but he can't do it! He is like an arrow at this moment, it has been set on a string, and the hand pulling the string is with the current emperor.
Just think about it, Governor Hong, the arrow is already on the string and the bow is fully drawn. How can there be any reason not to release it?
I'm afraid that his troops have just been recruited and have not yet been reorganized, so they will rush eastward from Tongguan. With untrained troops, they will fight against the bandits who have survived hundreds of battles. How can they be invincible?"
"well!"
Hong Chengchou shook his head when he heard this, sighed unconsciously, and asked: "In my opinion, sir, when the students leave seclusion this time, although there are nominally 130,000 officers and soldiers, we can eliminate the vacancies and eliminate the old and weak. There are probably less than 100,000 people left, can we fight against the bandits?"
After Liu Zizheng thought for a while, he said: "Although I have been away from Liaodong for many years, I have heard about the situation here. Jiannu is now gaining power. In terms of military strength alone, it is not superior to us. The dedication of the soldiers with their lives and their united efforts cannot be matched by ours.
Although Governor Hong commanded eight generals and supported more than 100,000 soldiers, they all had their own minds and it was difficult to form a joint force to concentrate on fighting Jiannu.
However, the fourth prince of the captives, Huang Taiji, was able to go to the front line and personally command the battle. He was very familiar with the situation of the two armies. It can be seen that our side, from the emperor to our own soldiers, could see the situation between the enemy and ourselves as if they were separated from each other by mist. It's very hazy.
Things on the battlefield are changing rapidly. The four princes of the captive chiefs can make decisions on the spot, retreat or advance, and command flexibly. However, our temple planning depends on thousands of miles away. The person who is the supervisor is called the supervisor, and is controlled by the emperor. There are also constraints from the military department in the middle, and the subordinates are also controlled by the supervisory army, so they cannot act according to the opportunity and take advantage of convenience.
It is very obvious that commanding is inferior to building slaves.
Besides, although the land for establishing slaves is small and the products are not abundant, there are no hidden worries in it. Regardless of bannermen, coatmen or slaves, they are directly subordinate to the Eight Banners, just like large military camps. When there is nothing to do, they farm, and when there is police, they go to war. Unlike In our Ming Dynasty, rebellions are everywhere, wars are frequent, the people are displaced, and the military is demoralized in every town. Who is willing to really contribute to the court?
At present, the imperial court is focusing on one thing at the expense of the other. Bandits and bandits are everywhere, and wars are raging everywhere. This is because the country's power is not as good as that of Jiannu.
Finally, although we have mobilized the whole country to transport grain and grass outside the customs, it is said that we can barely sustain it for one year, but what will happen after one year? Once the war drags on for a long time and we cannot win within the year, the next step will be difficult.
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What's more, today's food transportation is mostly by sea. Not only is the journey long, but it is also dangerous and dangerous, causing heavy losses. If the food route is intercepted by the Jian slaves, the morale of the army will be lost. Even if there are hundreds of thousands of troops, they will collapse without fighting!
However, Jiannu was fighting in his own territory, and there was no danger of being cut off from the food route. He could not only transport and supply food and grass himself, but he could also blackmail and force North Korea to transport food to him through the sea route.
In terms of food and grass alone, we are far inferior to Jiannu."