The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 416 General trend
"On October 26, the Western bandits broke into Lu'an, and the prefect Zheng Luxiang died..."

"On the 29th, the Western bandits invaded Wuwei and Lujiang again. Their troops were very aggressive and approached... Hefei..."

The Western bandits naturally refer to the current Dashi Army, Zhang Xianzhong's troops.

In the west warm room, Chen Xinjia lowered his head, his voice was low and his tone was weak.

The court was in turmoil and people's words were terrifying. In recent days, there were countless documents and memorials attacking him.

However, Chongzhen blocked all the criticisms and chose to keep them in his heart, and even comforted Chen Xinjia when he summoned him.

but……

The country was in ruins, Songjin was lost, the Northwest Army was defeated, and the suppression of the rebellion was impossible. As the Minister of War, he could not escape the blame.

Chen Xinjia felt guilty. Having served as the Shangshu for a long time, he had already understood his true talents.

He is not Zhang Liang, nor can he be Zhang Liang, let alone compare to Zhang Liang.

He thought he could make plans and win battles from afar, but in reality, he couldn't. He was far behind...

"Liu Liangzuo, Huang Degong and Sun Yingyuan joined forces to fight the Western Bandits at Jiming Mountain."

"The western bandits hid their elite cavalry in the south and suddenly attacked during the fierce battle. Liu Liangzuo's troops were defeated first, and the other towns were also defeated because of this."

"The enemy was chasing us very quickly. Sun Yingyuan led his troops to cover the retreat of the towns."

"Besieged by the Western bandits on Jiming Mountain, Sun Yingyuan was isolated and helpless. He led his soldiers to defend the mountain, but was eventually killed in battle by the Western bandits."

"After the battle, we counted the soldiers in the Brave Guard Battalion and found that 30% of them were killed or wounded. Only 8,000 soldiers were left, and most of their weapons and armor were lost."

"The western bandits gathered a large army of 300,000 men, marched eastward from Hefei, joined forces with the 10,000 bandit troops in Chuzhou Prefecture, and approached Nanjing."

As soon as Chen Xinjia finished speaking, the warm room returned to silence.

Chongzhen looked sad and was struggling to support his body with his hands.

The Yongwei Camp was a new army organized and trained under the order of Chongzhen.

There are four battalions, each with 3,000 people, totaling 12,000 people. Their food and salaries are managed by the Ministry of War together with the Beijing Battalion.

They are supervised by the Imperial Stables and the Governor-General of the Beijing Camp has no management authority. They are truly the imperial army.

The losses in the Battle of Jiming Mountain were so heavy that Chongzhen was deeply saddened.

The elite troops of the Nine Frontiers suffered heavy losses and their military might was hard to restore, making them almost unable to resist the powerful enemy.

The various towns in the south had different thoughts and were difficult to control, and some even had the intention of separatist and independent rule.

Chongzhen felt powerless and looked at the ministers in the cabinet.

Although the cabinet was full of ministers, Chongzhen felt that it was empty.

Chongzhen wanted to ask, he wanted to find someone to discuss it.

But he didn't know how to start the conversation, nor did he know who to talk to.

Zhou Yanru remained silent and Chen Xinjia was dejected.

Wu Shen, He Fengsheng, Zhang Sizhi, Xie Sheng, Wei Zhaocheng and other ministers stood in the pavilion, just like clay sculptures and wooden statues in the temple.

Chongzhen sighed and said weakly.

"Lu Xiangsheng, can you defend Nanjing?"

The situation in the South is now extremely difficult, and the grain transport has been controlled by the Wanmin Army.

Zhang Xianzhong led his troops eastward again and captured Luzhou and Anqing prefectures in Southern Zhili.

All the areas under the jurisdiction of Nanzhili north of the Yangtze River were occupied by bandits, and the situation had deteriorated to the extreme.

If we can't hold Nanjing...

collapse.

Only in a day or two.

After Chongzhen finished speaking, everyone remained silent and focused their eyes on Zhou Yanru.

Today, the war in the South is being managed by Zhou Yanru, the chief minister of the cabinet.

Zhou Yanru was wearing a bright red dragon robe and standing at the head of all the ministers.

When he saw the gaze coming towards him, Zhou Yanru's eyes couldn't help but move, and then he spoke.

"Before this, the soldiers in the various towns of the Southern Kingdom were a mixed bag, with good and bad soldiers. After Lu Xiangsheng's several rounds of rectification, they have become quite powerful and are said to be able to fight."

Chongzhen felt a little depressed.

Many of the advice and measures Zhou Yanru put forward gradually improved the situation and proved his talent.

The move of paying salaries to Zuo Liangyu and Chen Wang did indeed mobilize the two departments.

Chen Wang led his troops eastward from Henan, recaptured Xuzhou and Suzhou, and approached the city of Fengyang, forcing the Wanmin Army to return to defend. The pressure on officers and soldiers in the Yangzhou area was greatly reduced.

Unfortunately, it takes time to transport military pay. Before it arrived in Wuchang, Zhang Xianzhong had already captured the city.

Zuo Liangyu was responsible for the fall of Wuchang, but more responsibility lay with the officials defending the city and the King of Chu.

When stationed in Wuchang, Zuo Liangyu asked Wuchang and the King of Chu for soldiers, food and money, but received no supplies, so he plundered Wuchang, including the grain and salt ships.

Later, when Zhang Xianzhong attacked Wuchang, the officials in Wuchang city strictly prohibited Zuo Liangyu from leading his troops into the city for defense, on the grounds that the military discipline of his troops was poor.

Zhang Xianzhong went from Hanyang to attack Wuchang via Yadanzhou.
Zuo Liangyu led his troops to fight near the city. The officers and soldiers in Wuchang were frightened and fired cannons, accidentally injuring Zuo Liangyu's troops, causing chaos in the formation of Zuo Liangyu's troops.

Zhang Xianzhong led his troops to seize the opportunity and defeated Zuo Liangyu.

In anger, Zuo Liangyu led his troops to retreat northward, leaving Wuchang empty.

Later, when Zhang Xianzhong gathered his troops to attack Wuchang, local officials from Huguang gathered at the Chu Palace and knelt down to beg Zhu Huakui to donate money to support the army. Zhu Huakui, the Chu King, actually pointed to the gold-wrapped chair given by the Hongwu Dynasty and said, "This can help the army, no one else has it!"

The military pay was insufficient and forcibly conscripting civilians was of no help at all. Many people fled and Wuchang fell.

The Southern Kingdom's Embroidered Uniform Guard reported that Zhang Xianzhong led his troops into the Chu King's palace and took away millions of gold and silver from the palace, which were loaded onto hundreds of carts.

"You said you are capable of a fight?"

Chongzhen repeated Zhou Yanru's last words, raising his voice slightly.

"That means it's actually not worth fighting, right?"

Zhou Yanru's eyes moved slightly. The current Chongzhen was not easy to fool.

"The soldiers in the inland camps have not seen the battlefield for a long time. It is indeed difficult for them to fight against the bandit army..."

There were only more than 60,000 troops around Nanjing.

These more than 60,000 troops were reinforcements transferred from Fujian, Guangxi and Jiangxi provinces. They were weak in combat effectiveness and were of no use.

They were much weaker than the southern troops led by Hou Xun.

Compared with the reinforcements led by Sun Chuanting, they were not just a little bit inferior.

The Wanmin Army had previously been able to defeat Hou Xun first and then kill Sun Chuanting.

Now his prestige is even stronger, and Zhang Xianzhong is rushing here from Luzhou Prefecture.

The 60,000 troops around Nanjing City were not enough. Even if the 15,000 temporarily recruited militiamen were added, the chances of winning were still not high.

Although Nanjing City’s defenses are strong, people are still needed to defend the city.

It was by relying on the navy that Nanjing was able to hold on.

After the Battle of Pizhou, the navy of the Wanmin Army was already comparable to the navy outside the city of Nanjing.

Zhou Yanru paused for a moment. He knew what Chongzhen meant. Chongzhen needed a solution.

But the solution he knew to resolve the danger in Nanjing was very risky.

But now it was no longer up to him to decide.

"Zheng Zhilong, the general of Fujian, has many warships in his naval garrison, and many elite soldiers and generals, with strong combat power. During his tenure, Fujian's sea pirates were wiped out, and there have been no pirates invading the border for many years. He can mobilize the troops under his garrison to advance by land and sea to help Nanjing."

"Zheng Zhilong?"

Chongzhen frowned. He naturally knew about Zheng Zhilong, the commander-in-chief of Fujian.

In the 13th year, the Ministry of War commended Zheng Zhilong for his merits and promoted him to the commander-in-chief of Fujian.

However, Zheng Zhilong was born a pirate, and there were many memorials impeaching him.

Zheng Zhilong built a mansion, city walls, and a port in Anping, Fujian, and kept a large number of private soldiers, making them impossible to control.

If it weren't for the fact that coastal defense still relied on Zheng Zhilong, all these things would be enough to sentence Zheng Zhilong to death.

Chongzhen wanted to reject Zhou Yanru's proposal.

Zheng Zhilong made Chongzhen feel very dangerous. "Zheng Zhilong was very ambitious. He raised private soldiers and built his own warships. He was rampant overseas and had strong power, but he lacked prestige and a foothold."

"At this time, we should send an order to Zheng Zhilong to Nanjing to help him, which will greatly boost his prestige. If he becomes as arrogant as Zuo Liangyu, who can stop him?"

Chen Wang and Zuo Liangyu were now so powerful that they were difficult to control, which had already made Chongzhen extremely anxious.

If there were another Zheng Zhilong, the situation in the South would only get worse.

To issue an order to Zheng Zhilong is like adding fuel to the fire.

And, uh, Chongzhen remembered it very clearly.

Zheng Zhilong was appeased by Xiong Wencan, who was Zheng Zhilong's benefactor. However, Xiong Wencan was killed by his imperial edict.

"If we want to lift the siege of Nanjing, this is the only way."

Zhou Yanru did not answer Chongzhen's question directly, but bowed and said solemnly.

Chongzhen sat on the chair, feeling weak all over.

Zhou Yanru did not answer his question, but answered his question again.

The Southern Kingdom is out of control. With Chen Wang and Zuo Liangyu already in the system, adding Zheng Zhilong wouldn't hurt either.

There was a long silence in the West Warm Pavilion.

Chongzhen was in darkness, his entire body buried in shadows.

I don’t know how long it was before the silence was broken by a sigh.

Chongzhen raised his head and sighed.

"Send an imperial edict to dispatch Zheng Zhilong, the general commander of Fujian, to rush to Nanjing to provide assistance..."

After saying this, Chongzhen seemed to have lost all his strength and leaned back completely on the chair.

It was a long time before Chongzhen's voice was heard again.

"Hasn't the choice of Governor been decided yet?"

In the warm room, the ministers remained silent.

The governor that Chongzhen mentioned was naturally Sun Chuanting's original position - governor of military affairs in the four provinces of Shanxi, Henan, Hebei and Shandong.

It has been more than a month since Sun Chuanting was defeated and killed in Pizhou, but the candidate for the commander-in-chief has not been decided yet.

The South Country is now a mess, with no soldiers and no generals.

If he were to take over as commander-in-chief and march south, it can be said that he would not leave behind much of a good reputation.

Power before death is important, and reputation after death is also important.

What Xin Qiji wrote, "to accomplish the king's affairs and win fame before and after death", is a true reflection of the inner thoughts of many people.

Chongzhen waited for a long time, but there was still silence in the warm room and no one responded.

Chongzhen was upset and became more and more angry, and said in a cold voice.

"Wu Shen."

Chongzhen's voice was angry, which made people feel fear.

When Wu Shen heard Chongzhen calling him by his name, his expression changed slightly.

"I remember that you once served as the Right Censor-in-Chief and the Governor of Shanxi."

Wu Shen calmed himself down, adjusted his emotions, and replied.

"Your Majesty remembers it well."

"I still remember that in the fifth year, you wrote a letter to argue for Cao Wenzhao."

"In the seventh year, you petitioned and argued for an order to first pacify the Jin rebels and then enter Henan. I refused, and Cao Wenzhao ordered us to take the route through Taiyuan..."

What Chongzhen said was already very straightforward.

Wu Shen had already heard the hidden meaning behind Chongzhen's words.

Chongzhen wanted him to replace Sun Chuanting as governor-general and in charge of military affairs in the north.

Chen Wang used to be a servant under Cao Wenzhao, and he always respected Cao Wenzhao.

Every year Chen Wang would prepare a lot of gifts for Cao Wenzhao.

Since Chen Wang became the camp commander, he has never been absent every year.

After Cao Wenzhao died in battle, Chen Wang even mourned for him for seven days.

Even after the mourning period, Chen Wang's battle robe was still white.

In the past, Chen Wang always wore a red robe and basically did not change it.

This is enough to show Chen Wang's feelings for Cao Wenzhao.

The purpose of Chongzhen's words was undoubtedly to say that he, Wu Sheng, was Cao Wenzhao's benefactor.

This relationship can be used to influence Chen Wang to a certain extent.

However, how can fighting for supremacy in the world be just a child's game?

Wu Shen knew his relationship with Cao Wenzhao and could not influence Chen Wang.

Chen Wang was a meticulous man with great ambitions. Everything he did, without exception, demonstrated his ambition.

Now, Chen Wang, taking advantage of the period when there is no governor, has transferred commands to various towns in the name of the general who suppresses bandits.

Taking people as a mirror, you can understand the gains and losses.

With history as a mirror, we can know the rise and fall.

The troops in Hanzhong Town, Henan, northern Huguang, southern Shandong and other places are all under the control of Chen Wang.

There are already 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers and horses exposed in Hanzhong Town, and there are probably even more hidden.

Many things simply cannot be scrutinized.

When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked. How could Chen Wang not understand such a simple truth?

Once you embark on that path, there is no turning back.

There are no usurpers in this world, and there are almost no powerful officials who can have a good end...

"Chen Wang has a large army and is in charge of all the towns with the power of the general who suppresses the bandits. Zuo Liangyu is very domineering. Yang Gebu issued nine edicts to recruit soldiers, but not a single brigade was sent out. I am not as talented and knowledgeable as Yang Gebu. If I cannot control myself, I am afraid that my prestige will be damaged..."

How can the overall situation of the South be resolved by one commander-in-chief or one prime minister?
"So, I think..."

Wu Shen stepped out of the line and wanted to refuse again.

He has done more than enough.

He is already quite old and he wants to preserve the last bit of his good reputation.

But Chongzhen did not give him a chance and went straight to the point.

"You have been to Yanjiang, and you can go to supervise Huaibei."

Wu Shen's expression changed slightly. Chongzhen's tone was very bad. Such words did not allow him to refuse.

If I refuse, according to Chongzhen's temper, I'm afraid that in the future...

finally.

"Your Majesty, Wu Shen"

Wu Shen finally lowered his head and accepted Chongzhen's commission.

"Accept the decree."

Outside the warm room.

The north wind howled, blowing up thousands of snowflakes.

Amid the howling wind and gusts of cold wind, the majestic Forbidden City seemed to become even more desolate.

The new year is coming.

However, in such a huge capital city, there was not the slightest atmosphere of the approaching New Year.

The capital city, shrouded in darkness, seemed increasingly desolate.

Li Zicheng in the northwest led an army of 50,000 and was approaching Dasan Pass.

Songshan City in Liaodong has already fallen, Liaodong Governor Qiu Minyang died for his country, and the Qing army has concentrated its troops to encircle Jinzhou...

(End of this chapter)