The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 558 Governor Li Dingguo

"Last year, Zuo Liangyu was granted the title of Duke of Kunshan by the Hongguang court. Recently, he's also been supported by the pirate king Zheng Chenggong. He has ample supplies of troops, money, and food, and is extremely arrogant. However, our Fourth Corps is being treated like a stepmother. Not only do we lack food, fodder, and firearms, but last year during the Eastern Expedition to Korea, the Fourth Corps was the one that was most heavily diverted. With one side gaining while the other loses, let alone taking the initiative, I'll be thankful if we can hold the cities along the Huai River."

Qin Jianxun's words were full of complaints about the retired emperor and the Great Qi. Li Dingguo was quite surprised. It was hard to imagine that this was a voice that could be heard after the Great Purge. What Li Bazong didn't know was that on the north and south borders of Qi, whether in the north or on the Huai River, there was a force trying to break free from the shackles of totalitarianism. To put it simply, the emperor was far away and no one cared about what he did.

Hong Youquan saw that Qin Jianxun's words were a bit out of line, so he quickly stepped forward to smooth things over:
"General Li, you may not know that when the Emperor visited the Huai River, he instructed the Fourth Corps to 'If no one offends me, I will offend them. If someone offends me, I will kill them.'" In other words, small-scale fighting is fine, but to completely break off relations with the Ming army, we still need to consult the Emperor. Now the enemy and our situation has changed, and a full-scale attack is probably not feasible. We should wait until the situation in the north stabilizes."

Li Dingguo did not say anything else. He did not expect that in just a few years, these brave soldiers who had experienced many battles would lose their enterprising spirit. No wonder the emperor had to go to war every year. If the soldiers were kept for a long time without fighting, there would be problems.

Thinking of the hardships he had experienced in the past few days, and looking at the two chief officers sitting on the Diaoyutai with composure, the young man felt disheartened.

It should be noted that the Fourth Corps is one of the four main forces. Now that they are facing their former defeated general Zuo Liangyu, they did not expect that they would be so hesitant and hesitant.

If Qin Jianxun had not deliberately conserved his strength, then the emperor's eastern expedition had really damaged the troops of various factions.

Li Dingguo exchanged a few pleasantries with the two men and talked about his experiences in Fujian and Jiangxi provinces. Then he hurriedly said goodbye and took Yin Susu with him to rest.

At that moment, Hong Youquan arranged for his personal soldiers to clean a tent for the two of them and took them down to rest.

Li Dingguo walked in front and Yin Susu walked behind. The personal soldiers led the two to the tent and left.

When the curtain was opened, there was a bunk bed and a coffee table and chairs in the tent. Li Dingguo was extremely tired. He spread a mat on the ground and fell asleep. After a while, he was snoring like thunder.

Yin Susu looked at the young man in front of her with wide eyes, as if talking to herself: "I didn't expect that your Qin general wouldn't dare to attack Zuo Liangyu! Da Qi doesn't seem as powerful as it appears."

Li Dingguo suddenly opened his eyes.

"Husband, you haven't slept yet. Why were those guards so afraid of you when they heard your name just now?"

"I heard that when you were guarding Deshengmen, you fought against a hundred people alone and killed dozens of bandits. Is that true?"

"Husband, do you have a lover in Liaodong?"

Li Dingguo turned over and whispered to her:
"There is a curfew in the army. Anyone making noise during the second watch will be executed."

Yin Susu rolled her eyes at him, stopped talking, and went to sleep with her clothes on.

Silent all night.

The next morning, the sound of bugles rang out throughout the camp, and the sounds of new recruits training reached the tent. When Yin Susu got up, she saw that Li Dingguo was gone, so she asked the soldiers outside the tent. They said that Captain Li had gone to the central army tent to receive orders, and a young eunuch had been sent from Shenyang.

Yin Susu washed herself hastily, changed into a jacket and skirt, and rushed towards the central army tent. As she walked on the road, the new recruits who were training looked at the woman in surprise.

When Li Dingguo was found, the imperial edict sent by the retired emperor had just been read out. The young eunuch who was said to have come from the Shenyang Palace was sitting in the seat where Hong Youquan had sat yesterday, drinking tea leisurely.

Seeing Yin Susu rush in, the young eunuch glanced at her up and down, and his cold face immediately changed to a warm expression.

"This must be Li Youji's sister, right? Great! Good brothers fighting tigers, brothers and sisters fighting together in battle! When you go back this time, my family will personally recommend you and your brother for credit!" Yin Susu opened her mouth wide and remained speechless for a long time. She didn't expect that in just a short moment, her husband became a brother and was promoted from a general to a guerrilla general.

This promotion speed is faster than that of the retired emperor on the battlefield of Sarhu!
Seeing that she was still in a daze, Li Dingguo stepped forward, took her little hand, and led her to kneel down to thank the emperor.

The young eunuch smiled and helped Li Dingguo's "little sister" up. He looked Yin Susu up and down, his eyes narrowed into a county magistrate's, and said with a smile:

"Haha, you're just as brave as your brother! Well, there's a saying that goes, 'A tiger brother needs a dog sister.' You're extraordinary! I can tell at first glance that she's a heroine. Back then, the Empress Dowager Cisheng beat the drums at Hunhe River, boosting the morale of the three armies and defeating the Jiannu in one fell swoop. What a grand occasion! It's a pity that I was born late and didn't see the grand scene at Hunhe River back then. Meeting Miss Li today is really an eye-opener."

These words left Yin Susu stunned. Qin Jianxun and Hong Youquan did not say anything, but just looked at the brother and sister with a smile.

"Well, the imperial edict has been read, the heroine has been met, and our mission is done. It's time to return to Liaodong. Li Youji, the north is still waiting for you, please come in."

After the young eunuch said this, he made a gesture to leave the camp.

Li Dingguo and Yin Susu were still confused when they saw Instructor Hong quickly step forward, grab the young eunuch, gently pull him aside, and whisper:

"Eunuch Cao has traveled through mountains and rivers, and his shoes are worn out. It must have been a tough journey. Let him rest in Huguang for two days. I will host a welcoming party tonight!"

Eunuch Cao waved his hand quickly, "Master Hong, we appreciate your kindness. It's not that we're being overconfident, but this imperial edict is truly urgent, as urgent as a spark. Millions and even tens of thousands of people in Liaodong are waiting for you to return home so they can go to Yinzhou. We can't delay any longer."

After saying this, he was about to push the door open again. Hong Youquan quickly took out a string of fine oriental pearls from his bosom and stuffed them into Cao Tengzhuo's sleeve without making a sound. He whispered a few words in the young eunuch's ear. Eunuch Cao pretended to be surprised and said:

"What are you talking about? Put it away, put it away! Every time I come to your Fourth Corps, it costs the instructor money! No way, no way!"

As he spoke, he stuffed the Dongzhu deep into the sleeve of his robe which was inlaid with beasts.

The two smiled at each other, neither speaking.

On that day, when Li Dingguo received the imperial edict, he learned that he had been promoted directly from a small captain to a guerrilla, and was also appointed as the governor of Yinzhou. He rushed back to Shenyang overnight to meet with the emperor and listen to his instructions.

Although Li Dingguo did not know what the position of Governor of Yinzhou was, nor did he know where Yinzhou was, his intuition told him that this mission was extremely dangerous, and it could even be said that it was a life-or-death situation.

However, as long as he can seize this opportunity, then his chance to make great achievements for the Great Qi will also come.

Li Dingguo took Yin Susu and rode in the carriage provided by eunuch Cao, rushing to the outside of the Great Wall overnight.

On the way, Li Youji told Eunuch Cao in detail about his experiences in Fujian, and also wrote a "Sealing-off Report" crookedly in the carriage. He hoped that Eunuch Cao could present it to the retired emperor as soon as possible and take action against the Zheng pirates.

Eunuch Cao said amiably, "If you have anything to say, Li Youji can speak to His Majesty in person. But you must hurry on your way. Sun Kewang is almost in Liaodong, and this time, he'll also be heading to Yinzhou."

"Sun Kewang?"

"Is that bastard still alive?" Li Dingguo blurted out, with deep hatred flashing in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)