1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 501 Throbbing ([-])

On the eighth day of the first lunar month in the 17th year of Chongzhen (February 1644, 2), Li Zicheng led his army from Xi'an and marched towards Beijing.

On the second day of February (March 3), Li Zicheng led his army to build 10 ships in Shazuokou, and collected more than [-] civilian ships to cross the Yellow River, and captured Fenzhou (now Fenyang) and Yangcheng (now Yangcheng County, Jincheng City) ), took advantage of the victory to capture Puzhou (now Yongji).

On the third day of the lunar new year (March 3), Huaiqing was captured (roughly in Jiaozuo, Henan Province today), and King Zaiyu of Lujiang was killed. At that time, King Fu fled from Song to Huaiqing. He escaped from the east gate and went to King Yilu (Zhu Changhao, nephew of Shenzong Zhu Yijun) in Weihui (now Weihui City, which belongs to Xinxiang City, Henan Province).

On the fifth day of February (March 3), Li Zicheng attacked Taiyuan. The governor Cai Maode (who had not yet resigned) transferred Zhu Kongxun, Niu Yong, Wang Yongkui and other 13 soldiers to fight.

On the eighth day of the lunar new year (March 3), Li Zicheng, with Zhang Xiong as his internal response, bombarded the southeast corner of the city and captured Taiyuan City. Cai Maode hanged himself to death, and the King of Jin begged for surrender.For this reason, Chongzhen issued an edict of guilt to the world.

On February 3th (March 24th), Li Zicheng arrived in Xinzhou (now Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province), the officials and the people greeted the surrender, and attacked Daizhou (now under the jurisdiction of Xinzhou). After several days of fighting, more than [-] enemies were killed. The corpses were almost level with the city wall.

On February 3 (March 28), Li Zicheng forced his way into Ningwu Pass, issued an ultimatum to the pass, and massacred the city without leaving for five days.Zhou Yuji refused to defend with all his strength, injuring more than ten thousand enemies.Afterwards, Zhou Yuji wandered on foot and killed dozens of people with his hands. The arrows gathered like hedgehog hairs were held and tied to a high pole and shot to death.Wang Yunmao, deputy envoy of Ningwu military preparations, and his family committed suicide.On the first day of March, Ningwuguan fell, and Li Zicheng slaughtered the city.

After the war, Li Zicheng's peasant army died tens of thousands of people. He was very worried about the advancement and said: "Although Ningwu was broken, there were too many casualties. Since then, it has reached the capital, Datong, Xuanfu, and Juyongguan. If there are remnants, it is better to return the Shaanxi map and raise it later."

However, in the middle of the night on the first day of March (April 4th), Jiang Yu, the commander-in-chief of Datong, arrived. Li Zicheng was very happy. Li Zicheng wanted to execute Jiang Guan after entering Datong, but Zhang Tianlin was dissuaded by Chuang Chuang and released.

So far, the capital is in a hurry, and the peasant army has successfully obtained the road to attack the capital.

On the third day of March (April 4), Qi State's Second Marine Battalion and three squadrons of township soldiers, together with more than 8 members of a self-rescue army built by hungry people, took more than 30 large and small boats on Changshan Island and headed straight for the Driving east, heading for North Korea.

On the fifth day of March (April 4), the Qi army seized Phi Island (now Kui Island, North Korea) and Yuncong Island (now Shinmi Island, North Korea), captured and killed more than 10 Korean soldiers and civilians, and then rested for two days. He ordered the self-rescue army to rebuild the fortress of Dongjiang Town on Phi Island.

On the seventh day of March (April 4th), the Qi army conquered Tieshan County and plundered the wilderness. After five days, they returned to Pidao.

On the seventh day of March, Wu Sangui received the edict from Chongzhen to enter Guanqin, and immediately led more than [-] soldiers and civilians to withdraw from Ningyuan (now Xingcheng City, Huludao City, Liaoning) to Shanhaiguan in batches.

On the tenth day of March, Qi Dajiang, the commander-in-chief of the Qi State Navy, led eight professional warships, and after a brief stop in Batavia for supplies, they headed northwards towards Daming.

Looking at the fleet of Qi State in the distance, the tense wharf forts and several armed merchant ships in Batavia Port were all relieved. At that time, a large-scale assembly is going to the north, what are they going to do?
"I think the Hanzhou people may intervene in the affairs of the Ming country in the north that is in great chaos." Colonel Dakman Barek, commander of the Batavia Navy of the Dutch East India Company, said: "They are in the Ming country, They have many vital interests. They carry out a large number of immigrants from the Ming country every year, and they have also established direct contact with the Ming government, sending many diplomatic and business personnel. But we all know that over the years, many large-scale events have occurred in the Ming country. The civilian riots there, the situation there should not be very optimistic. The Ming government may be on the verge of collapse, and the Hanzhou people's fleet may have gone to Ming to deal with the drastic changes that are about to take place in Ming."

"If there is a change in the Ming government, how will it affect our East India Company?" Governor Cornelis van der Lin asked.

"If those rioting civilians overthrow the current Ming royal family and establish a new kingdom government, I think it will have little impact on us." Colonel Barek said: "At least for those merchants who control the Ming country's coastal trade They won’t change too much, they just changed to an emperor who needs to be loyal again, and the commodity trade should continue, and they all have a very persistent love for keeping precious metals.”

"Does that have any effect on the official Nicholas who controls the sea area of ​​the Ming Dynasty?" Governor Delin asked.

"It won't be affected in the short term." Colonel Barek thought for a while, and then said: "After all, Officer Nicholas has the largest sea power in this country. If a new dynasty in this country is established, it may still rely on He, to safeguard the security and economic interests of the surrounding waters."

Governor Derling nodded, and then began to think about what kind of chain reaction the drastic changes in the situation in the Ming Dynasty would have on the entire Far East region, and what benefits the East India Company could gain from it.

"Gentlemen, do you think the Hanzhou people will be deeply involved in the chaotic situation of the Ming country? If, um, I just assume that if the Hanzhou people are caught in the chaotic situation of the Ming country, so that they can't get out, and involve With all their strength, is this an opportunity for us, an opportunity to take advantage of the opportunity to weaken Hanzhou." Governor Delin suddenly said: "After all, a Hanzhou that is too powerful is a huge challenge for our East India Company. No small threat."

"Hanzhou people should not be deeply involved in the Ming Dynasty." Senior Commercial Counselor Fred Upton said: "The distance is so far away. Although Hanzhou has great interests in Ming Dynasty, it is impossible to risk being dragged down." At your own risk, to deeply interfere in the situation of the Ming country. You must know that the Ming country is a huge country with hundreds of millions of people, and only with the current strength of Hanzhou, they cannot change any changes in the situation in the Ming country."

"What if we help them?" Governor Delin said thoughtfully.

"Help the Han people?" Fred Upton didn't know why, "We help the Han people to intervene in Ming affairs? How can we do it..."

"In order for the Hanzhou people to intervene in the affairs of the Ming Dynasty, most of their maritime transportation resources will inevitably be shifted to the transportation of materials between the Ming Dynasty and Hanzhou. In this way, their local transportation capacity in Hanzhou may be slightly insufficient. If our East India Company comes forward to negotiate with the Hanzhou people, gradually increase cooperation with the Hanzhou people, and use our numerous sea transportation forces to fill their transportation gap, so that the Hanzhou people can devote themselves to the Ming Dynasty. In the midst of a huge chaotic situation." Governor Delin said excitedly: "In this way, in the entire East Indies, they have no time to devote more energy to delaying our colonial progress. Perhaps, the huge Ming country The quagmire can even drag Hanzhou down to completely weaken their strength."

After hearing this, Fred Upton couldn't help but looked at each other with other colonial officials in the Governor's Mansion, with wry smiles on their faces. The Governor's idea seemed too wishful thinking.Although the Hanzhou people all came from the Ming country and had many important interests in the Ming country, as long as their rulers were not fools, how could they waste their own national power and devote their limited power to the chaotic situation in the Ming country?This is obviously a bad deal, and it is impossible to happen.

"Gentlemen, don't think that I'm fantasizing." Seeing the strange expressions on everyone's faces, Governor Delin said solemnly: "The information sent back from our representative in Hanzhou shows that the Hanzhou people seem to be increasing the production of various military weapons. Moreover, they are still forming a new standing army. It is reported that more than half a month ago, the Hanzhou people had as many as 600 troops boarded and left Hanzhou. Although, our representatives in Hanzhou could not confirm those troops Where are they going, but we have reason to believe that they were sent to the Ming Kingdom."

"Because, in their army, they carry at least forty or fifty horses, and it is certain that they are war horses. Gentlemen, where will they be suitable for war horses? The East Indies? Peninsula area (Indochina Peninsula) Or the Philippines? No, not at all, the only place that can be used for war horses is the Ming Dynasty. The Hanzhou people have mobilized enough forces, and they must want to seek some interests in Ming Dynasty that are in line with their own interests."

"If so, we will push behind them and lend them the transportation power of our East India Company. I think that in order to obtain some important benefits in the Ming Dynasty as soon as possible, they will probably take over the assistance we handed over. .”

"If Hanzhou gained some major benefits because of its involvement in the chaotic situation of the Ming Dynasty, and thus promoted and enhanced Hanzhou's strength, wouldn't our East India Company be self-defeating?" Fred Upton couldn't help asking back.

"Colonel Barek, do you think that in the face of a huge country like the Ming Dynasty, and in a very chaotic situation, the Hanzhou people will seek major benefits that can enhance their strength?" Governor De Lin turned his head and said. Colonel Lake.

"If the rioting civilians of the Ming Dynasty overthrew the Ming government, I think the Hanzhou people may try to actively approach the newly established government and re-establish relations with it in order to continue to gain certain benefits." Colonel Barek said: "However, according to some historical feedback of this country, once a powerful new regime is established, it must not tolerate an external armed force appearing near its own country. At the same time, in order to maintain their own legitimacy and authority, they may expel and eliminate any An external force that dares to intervene in the situation of the country. Unless the Hanzhou people can compromise for it and give up some of the major benefits they have gained."

"That is to say, how much Hanzhou people have worked so hard to win the major interests in the Ming country, then after the regime change in the Ming country, they will probably give up reluctantly, or be forced to maintain it by force, and fall into a A new dispute." Governor Delin said with a smile: "So, on the land of the Ming Dynasty, no matter whether the Hanzhou people want to try their best to obtain certain interests, or try their best to maintain and preserve their interests in the future, their energy and limited resources are will inevitably be scattered across the Northern Continent, won't they?"

(End of this chapter)