Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 443 The Attacking Li Zicheng
On this day in February, Yulin was still in a state of ice, and Liu Tingjie rarely had a fire, eating mutton from the grassland.

Since guarding Yulin, he, like You Shiwei, has been very quiet and thoughtful, constantly dispatching troops to the grassland, turning passive into active.

One is to plunder the source of soldiers, and the other is to protect the trade routes for Shaanxi merchants, so as to earn some small money to improve their lives.

However, Yulin Town is very special. It is not only adjacent to the grassland, but also borders on Shanxi.

As we all know, today's Shanxi belongs to the Qing Dynasty, and the relationship between the two is quite delicate.

Shanxi, like Northern Zhili, fell on the lookout and did not suffer from any military disasters, except for the plague in previous years.

Of course, the Shanxi merchants also made great efforts. While persuading Jiang Yu, the general soldier of Datong, to return to the Qing Dynasty, they also interceded for Shanxi to avoid the destruction of their hometown.

Therefore, the Shanxi merchants preserved their vitality, and even benefited from the emergence of the eight imperial merchants, monopolizing the grassland trade, with strong strength and doubled influence.

"General Soldier, Shanxi is willing to give you 100,000 taels of silver, and say to make you a duke!"

After eating barbecue, sprinkled cumin and salt, Liu Tingjie listened to the returning Shaanxi merchants.

In order to find out the reality of Shanxi, the trade between the two sides has not been eliminated.

"Duke?"

Liu Tingjie was stunned, his face full of astonishment: "Didn't he still be the third-class captain of light vehicles last month? Good guy has become a duke."

"Did something happen?"

Liu Tingjie smiled.

The businessman folded his hands and baked it, and when his whole body was warm, he said, "I'm sure the commander-in-chief will be happy to hear the good news."

"Say it!"

Liu Tingjie couldn't help but said.

"The court has won!"

The businessman uttered four words, which were clearly audible.

"The one last winter?"

Liu Tingjie stood up and stretched his neck.

"That's right, although I don't know what the loss was, but Man Qing was defeated."

The businessman showed joy and said loudly.

"Pa——, no wonder a rising tide raises all boats!"

Liu Tingjie couldn't help clapping his hands and said: "In this way, the day of the end of the Manchu Qing Dynasty is just around the corner."

"Because of this, Jiang Zongbing of Datong also has his heart towards the imperial court, and he has a bit of an intention to do anything anyway."

"Jiang Yu? Isn't he the soldier who governs Datong, Xuanfu and other places, and is highly valued?"

"You don't know, he is really suffering..."

Therefore, the businessman introduced his situation, and Liu Tingjie suddenly realized.

Jiang Guan first voted for Dashun, and then voted for Manqing. This kind of sloppy approach won't be trusted at all.

Back then when Azige sent troops to Shaanxi, he not only had to contribute money and efforts, but also got no benefits. Afterwards, he was still entrusted with the post of general soldier, but the military power was in the hands of Qing general Wu Weihua.

Last year, when Azig quelled the Khalkha Mongolian rebellion, he also mobilized his soldiers and horses, commanding them more diligently than dogs.

Others, such as insufficient money and food rations, are even more numerous.

Of course, apart from his own situation, the change in the North-South situation was beyond his expectation.

The attributes of the wall grass broke out again, and he wanted to return to his Ming Dynasty.

When the deputy general was called to discuss it, the deputy general thought it needed to be taken seriously.

"It's a good idea!"

Liu Tingjie shook his head and said disdainfully, "I'm afraid His Majesty will find it hard to tolerate him."

"Uncle, many people are afraid that in this battle in Huai'an, they will have to be promoted again. You didn't participate in it!"

The lieutenant general couldn't help suggesting: "If Shanxi is captured, you are the vanguard, the coach, wouldn't a marquis be easy to catch?"

"You still have to listen to the court."

Liu Tingjie was moved by it, but after thinking for a long time, he decided to turn off the fire and leave everything to the court to decide.

In this army, I don't know how many pairs of eyes are staring at him!

Unexpectedly, two or three days later, the imperial decree from Nanjing arrived, stamped with the seal of the Chief of Staff.

In a word: Order Liu Tingjie and You Shiwei to cooperate with Jin Yiwei to go east to Shanxi, and cooperate with Jiang Guan anyway to take Shanxi.

What followed were more than ten thousand troops supported by You Shiwei.

Facing You Shiwei who was full of smiles, Liu Tingjie scolded his mother in his heart, the good credit was divided into half, who can swallow this breath?
However, the [-] shi army rations transferred from Xi'an made him breathe a sigh of relief.

"The imperial court is ready to go all out and take advantage of the defeat of the Qing Dynasty to take Shanxi and threaten Beijing."

You Shiwei was not nervous, instead he took out a large map, pointed to Shanxi and said, "The whole territory of Shanxi is a high-rise, if Datong and Taiyuan are taken, the rest of the cities will not be a concern."

"Through Datong, you can pass through the Xuanfu to intimidate Gyeonggi, and the imperial court will go north from Shandong and attack from both sides. It is absolutely difficult for the Manchus to escape."

"I understand that."

Liu Tingjie nodded, showing a displeased gesture: "It is enough for you to support the soldiers and horses, why are people here?"

"You must know that Li Zicheng can be the capital of Shaanxi, and Guyuan is the gateway to Xi'an."

"I understand better than you."

You Shiwei smiled, and he couldn't be too happy: "It's winter, the snow is three feet thick, and he can't survive with wings."

"Besides, after spending a few stones and grains, I asked the Tartars on the grassland to send me a letter. At this time, Li Zicheng has gone south and has no time to come back."

"Nan? Where is he going?"

Liu Tingjie was dumbfounded.

"Hehe, there is a shortage of food in the northwest, and it is difficult for Li Zicheng to feed his tens of thousands of troops. Going west, he can only eat dirt, so he went to Qinghai to fight the Tartars."

You Shiwei showed a hint of admiration: "There are tens of thousands of Tatars in Qinghai, the Tumote Department!"

"Tumed Department?" Liu Tingjie was also stunned: "This is too bold, isn't Li Zicheng capable?"

In fact, as early as the fifth year of Chongzhen (1632), Quetu Khan, the leader of the Waikalkha tribe, led his troops to Qinghai to conquer the Tumed and other tribes there.

Subsequently, Gush Khan, the leader of the Oirat Mongolian Heshuote tribe, conquered Qinghai and Tibet, establishing the Heshuote Khanate.

Although the two have been talking about the Tumote Department, but it's just a habit, the people are still those people, but the name has changed.

In other words, the Heshuote Khanate is the master of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses.

Li Zicheng is copying his hometown!
"So what if you don't hit Tumed?"

You Shiwei shook his head and smiled wryly, "Going further to the west, that's Junggar Mongolia, and it's harder to fight."

Liu Tingjie was stunned, and immediately laughed: "Li Zicheng can't stay in the northwest, and he wants his emperor to live up to his name!"

"If you can't be the emperor of the Han people, the Mongol emperor is also good. Maybe he still wants to use the Mongol soldiers to rebel against Shaanxi!"

You Shiwei sighed: "All in all, Li Zicheng won't be able to come back within a year or so."

Liu Tingjie muttered, this Li Zicheng doesn't know how to do personnel affairs.

You Shiwei is above him in terms of seniority and title, so he should occupy the dominant position.

The [-]-strong army hurriedly packed up, crossed the Yellow River at the end of February, and marched from the grassland, with the goal of Datong.

(End of this chapter)