"Nonsense! Come here, take Commander Tang to the wounded soldiers hospital for treatment." The long knife fell to the ground. Tang Tong endured the severe pain of his broken finger, his face turned pale, and he pinched his left wrist with his right hand. For him, even if
Chongzhen personally stated that he would no longer pursue the past crimes, but he still had a guilty conscience. As the so-called death penalty can be avoided, there is no way to escape life. In order to gain His Majesty's true trust, there was no harm in cutting off one of his fingers to show his loyalty.
Although this move is a bit reckless, and even a bit unwise considering the current environment, it does work.
Although Chongzhen didn't say anything, the last trace of guard against Tang Tong disappeared in his heart. First he had meritorious service, and then he redeemed his sins. How could he be treated as a treacherous person?
The soldiers who came after hearing the news helped Tang Tong out, and Chongzhen urged him to follow him all the way to Yingkou. He didn't turn back until he watched them leave. He believed more and more in his own judgment that he was definitely not a treacherous man in both civil and military circles.
, it was because I, as an emperor, had been considered “unqualified” before.
According to later generations of scholars, it can be called the late Ming Dynasty from the day he ascended the throne. During this period, the emperor's power reached its peak, so powerful that a single word could determine the life and death of the chief minister of the dynasty.
Anger can destroy any civil partisanship.
Thinking about this, Chongzhen couldn't help but recall a ridiculous thing. In the seventeen years since Shi Ning came to Wei Zaode, he had changed a total of nineteen cabinet ministers. As for the six ministers who were guilty...
...
"Ashamed."
While Chongzhen was muttering to himself, Wang Jinchao strode up to salute and asked: "Your Majesty, I have sent people to count the results of the battle and calculate the number of casualties of our army. However, there are many prisoners in this battle, and I dare not take charge of it. Please ask Your Majesty."
Decide for yourself.”
"I heard that the Jianlu leader is also among them?"
"Exactly, this man's name is Mengchai, and he claims to be Gu Shan'er Zhen, a subordinate of Azige, the leader of the Zhengbai Banner. Oh yes, this Gu Shan'er Zhen of Jianlu is about the same as our commander-in-chief."
"Take him to see me in the tent."
Mengchai, who had taken off his armor, was kneeling on the ground with his hands tied behind his back. Because he had his head lowered, the pigtails on the back of his head were clearly visible. Chongzhen, who was looking at Mengchai carefully, couldn't help but sigh in his heart, this money rat tail
Her hair style is indeed ugly.
In the large tent, except for Tang Tong who returned to the city to treat his injuries, all Chongzhen's generals were present.
On the left are Wang Jinchao, Jiang Xuan, Ma Yaozi, and Yang Boxian, standing in order. On the right are the four recommended soldiers and officers who were more outstanding in this battle, such as Jiang Xuan's servant He Qiu, the general flag of the night camp Li Jinxiang, etc., together with the regiment training
Zhao Adi and Hu Mazi, who survived the camp by chance, were both allowed in.
Among these people, everyone who belonged to the regiment training camp suffered serious injuries. However, once they heard that Long Live Lord had summoned them, they all came with faces filled with joy, and their physical pain was completely forgotten.
"Are you just Mengchai?"
"Yes." Mengchai said in a low tone without raising his head.
When Wang Jinchao saw Mengchai being rude, he looked at Chongzhen angrily. Chongzhen waved his hands to indicate that he didn't care, and then asked: "Why surrender?"
"I don't want the men of this banner to die because of me." It seems that Mengchai surrendered in order to save the lives of his own people. When these words came out, Wang Jinchao nodded lightly, and it was indeed true.
‘
I heard that Mengchai spoke Chinese well, and he was not as tall and round as the ordinary Manchus. Could this man be a wise general? It would be a good idea to use barbarians to attack barbarians, and Chongzhen had the intention of attracting people.
"Raise your head." Mengchai obediently raised his head and looked at the person sitting in front of him. The person who should have been sitting here was his Lord Beile, but now he was replaced by a middle-aged man. Is this the Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty?
"I can promise you not to kill the prisoners, but you have to do me a favor." Chongzhen said and blinked.
Before surrendering, Mengchai was mentally prepared. As long as he could save the lives of his men, there was no problem in killing him, so he said: "Your Majesty, please speak frankly."
However, Chongzhen was not in a hurry to answer him. Instead, he asked Wang Jinchao: "Approximately how many people are there?" Wang Jinchao responded and replied: "The actual number is still being counted, about 10,000, among which there is a mix of Manchu and Han people. If you look at it individually,
If Meng guessed one piece, it would be about three thousand."
"Yeah." After hearing Wang Jinchao's judgment, Chongzhen looked at Mengchai thoughtfully.
"I intend to release these ten thousand people, Meng guess, what do you think?"
Mengchai suddenly moved two steps forward with his knees in excitement, and said loudly: "Is your Majesty the emperor serious about what you said?" When Jiang Xuan saw this, he shouted, "How outrageous!" He pulled out a knife and put it on Mengchai's neck.
"Your Majesty, you must not do it! This will cause endless troubles if you let the tiger return to the mountain." Wang Jinchao then advised that instead of increasing the number of slaves, it would be better to kill them collectively. What does the promise to build slaves mean?
"I have made up my mind, let's take him down." The soldiers escorted Mengchai away with a look of disbelief on his face. Everyone in the tent couldn't hold back. Even Yang Boxian, who only followed Chongzhen, couldn't help but feel angry.
The dogs and the Tatars were released as soon as they were told, so how should they settle the account for the death of Pao Ze in the battle?
When the war is over, it is when the soldiers are unable to hide their murderous intentions. If someone else had not handled it carefully, the camp would have been in chaos. Fortunately, Chongzhen's prestige in the army is high enough now, and all his generals are confidants.
Chongzhen coughed twice with dryness in his throat and said slowly: "What do you think? I know it in my heart. Don't I hate Jianlu? I wish I could eat his flesh alive!"
Then the conversation changed: "However, a leader needs to take one step at a time and look at three steps. The first is the issue of food and grass. I know what the logistics situation in Datong is like. I can't support these ten thousand people." When it comes to food and grass.
Feeling anxious, Jiang Xuan immediately thought of the robbed grain truck.
"The second thing is the people's hearts. Although this battle was won, it was a tragic victory. Each battalion of our army suffered heavy losses, so we must recruit some of these 10,000 people to supplement them, right?"
"Exactly." Wang Jinchao thought about Chongzhen's words and agreed.
"Okay, since the Manchus and Han people are mixed, and the king is entering the dynasty, I would like to ask you, should we integrate the Manchus or the Han people? How much is enough? What should we do with the rest? Don't forget what I said before, you can't afford to feed too many.
.”
Following Chongzhen's questions, Wang Jinchao answered one by one: "The Manchus have always used all the people as soldiers, but we Han people have finally... This... Yes, Your Majesty, the remaining people still have to be let go."
Jiang Xuan also woke up and said: "What your Majesty said is absolutely true. Prisoners must not be killed, but released." People with discerning eyes saw the problems contained in it one after another. Only Yang Boxian raised his head and looked at the ceiling of the tent, thinking hard.
From the beginning, Chongzhen had no choice. Once the number of prisoners became too large to support, the extra ones would have to be released. The key was that the Manchus and Han were mixed. Everyone knew that the Manchus were very powerful. If they could really
Recruiting is a great help. Although there are many Han people, most of them cannot be used in the short term. The remaining ones who are eliminated must include Han people. Is it difficult to kill them all?
"What do you want from me? I have something to say."
"explain."
"Anyone who is not of my race must have a different heart. Your Majesty must not trust these Tatars easily."
Chongzhen replied with a smile: "You are right. Mr. Liu Bowen once said: Hua Hua Yi has strong defenses, one king has great power, Hu dominates China, and it changes to the barbarians. The Bible is clear, and it may be lost for thousands of years. But this is The war is not about discussing the differences between Hua and Yi. Since Dorgon can make Wu Sangui, shouldn't I be able to make him guess?"