Ming Dynasty: Tanks blocked the door and you said to me, "Long live Ming Dynasty"

This made Zhu Youxiao laugh: "This guy is quite picky..."

"Your Majesty, you don't know that this beast has good food in the cat factory."

Wei Zhongxian also laughed beside him.

"It does eat mice, but it only eats the young ones that haven't grown hair yet, and it eats them one by one, just like cracking melon seeds..."

"According to His Majesty's orders, the cat farm has begun releasing cats, one hundred cats over six months old every day."

"People down there said that the number of rats in the capital has also decreased significantly."

Zhu Youxiao nodded, but then gave further instructions.

"We can't just rely on cats to catch mice. We need to mobilize the people as well. We can charge two cents for each mouse and let the Ministry of Revenue collect the money."

"Although this thing can't be eaten, it can still be used for composting."

Wei Zhongxian quickly took out his notebook and said, "I'll write it down right away."

Chapter 597: What do you think of this reward?

The New Year's Eve in Beijing was very lively, and the people happily welcomed the arrival of the ninth year of Tianqi.

However, in Japan, thousands of miles away, Tokugawa Iemitsu was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

In the past two months, Li Zicheng's 30,000-strong army, after taking over Hokkaido, landed in Mutsu and launched an attack on Edo with overwhelming force.

The daimyo of Dewa, Echigo, Echichu, Shinano, Ueno, Shimotsuke, Hitachi and others were destroyed one after another!

An army of 30,000 arrived at the border of Hitachi ten days ago, and one step further would be Edo!

But what was strange was that after arriving there, Li Zicheng's army stopped and never moved forward again.

At first, Tokugawa Iemitsu didn't understand what was going on, but the news in recent days finally made him understand everything.

Because Zheng Zhilong’s army has also arrived!

The 50,000-strong South China Sea navy attacked in a dispersed manner along both land and sea. With their absolute advantage, the daimyo from all over the country had no power to resist at all.

They couldn't even ask for help!

These days, more and more daimyos have abandoned their homes and fled for their lives upon hearing the name of the South China Sea Navy.

They came to Edo and brought their elite troops with them.

However, it was precisely their cowardly behavior that prevented Kyoto from even holding out for a single day before it was conquered by Zheng Zhibao and his men.

At this time, Emperor Go-Mizunoo, along with his mother, Konoe Maeko, and other members of the imperial family, were detained in the South China Sea Navy.

After this news reached Edo Castle, even Tokugawa Iemitsu's father Tokugawa Hidetada, who was living in seclusion in Nishinomaru, had to break out.

He even put on the armor left by Tokugawa Ieyasu again.

"Baga! Why is this happening?!"

Tokugawa Hidetada was kneeling in the Honmaru Palace. He was already fifty years old, but he looked even more hunched over than a sixty-year-old man in the Ming Dynasty.

His face was hidden behind the mask on his armor.

The two horn-like decorations on the helmet were trembling slightly as he became more and more furious.

Tokugawa Iemitsu knelt opposite him, his head hung, his eyes filled with hatred.

"Akito is here too fast!"

"It has only been two months since the war started. This speed is unbelievable!"

"waste!"

Tokugawa Hidetada was very dissatisfied with his explanation and stood up suddenly.

"Tonight is the New Year's Eve of the Ming Dynasty!"

"This is the last piece of land in Japan. They will definitely not keep us here for the New Year!"

"Gather all warriors and prepare for a bloody battle!"

"Hai!"

Tokugawa Iemitsu quickly stood up, strode out of the hall and began to make arrangements.

Thirty miles away from them.

However, the scene in Li Zicheng's tent was quite different.

Youtong stood in the center of the big tent, while Li Zicheng, Li Guo, Yuan Zongde, Niu Jinxing and others were kneeling on the ground.

"The Emperor of Heaven and Earth, hereby declares:"

"Li Zicheng is very good and sensible. He can lead 30,000 volunteers to submit to the Ming Dynasty. I am very satisfied."

"The key is that this guy was able to help the South China Sea Navy pacify Japan in one fell swoop. This is a great achievement."

"So, let's confer him the title of Marquis of Zhenwo, and General Dingyuan, and at the same time, let one of his sons join the Jinyiwei as a centurion."

"Oh, by the way, the Marquis of Zhenwo doesn't seem to have a son yet, so I'll put it on the account first and redeem it when I have a son."

"That's all. Please accept my order..."

The content of the imperial edict was very straightforward, without any complicated words, and everyone present could understand it clearly.

Everyone's eyes turned to Li Zicheng.

After waiting for a long time, I finally got the true scriptures!

Li Zicheng was also extremely delighted and kowtowed to express his gratitude.

"I, Li Zicheng, thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

After saying that, he knelt down and took two steps forward, took the imperial edict from Youtong's hand, and kowtowed three times respectfully.

But he didn't get up, because he knew that this matter was not over yet.

Sure enough, the next moment Youtong took another imperial edict from the accompanying eunuch.

"The Emperor of Heaven and Earth, hereby declares:"

"I heard that there is a guy named Gao Yigong in the rebel army. He is Li Zicheng's brother-in-law. He is like a tiger in battle and always rushes forward without caring about his life."

"He is also very good. I like him very much, so I will confer him the title of Earl of Donghai and General Xuanwei."

"That's it, I decree!"

Gao Yigong was stunned for a moment until Niu Jinxing poked him in the butt from behind, then he reacted.

"I have made a great contribution. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

Yutong continued: "In obedience to the Emperor of Heavenly Fortune, I decree:"

"By the way, I heard that Li Zicheng has a nephew. His name is Li Guo, right?"

"This kid is also good. It's rare that he can follow the army to the east at such a young age. Let's make him the Earl of Beihai and General Wude."

After expressing his gratitude, Li Guo took the imperial edict and, like Li Zicheng and Niu Jinxing, knelt to the side and moved away.

But after waiting for a long time, I didn't hear Yutong say anything, so I couldn't help but look up secretly.

But I saw that Youtong had already walked aside and sat down.

Li Zicheng looked at him in astonishment: "Angel, this, this, this is gone?"

But Yutong laughed when he heard this: "Of course not. How many copies of the imperial edict do you think there are?"

Li Zicheng: ......

Could it be...

Shouldn't all of these brothers under me be rewarded?

Why were only Gao Yigong and Li Guo given titles?

It is understandable that Chonglou did not receive any reward. That guy was originally a member of the Jinyiwei. Even if he is not given a title now, he will be promoted within the Jinyiwei in the future.

But what about Niu Jinxing, Yuan Zongde, Li Laiheng and others?

Why didn't they get rewarded?

Just as I was wondering, I heard Youtong say this with a hint of sarcasm.

"Why don't you all get up and change into your official uniforms?"

"Yes, yes, thank you for the reminder, father-in-law!"

Li Zicheng had no choice but to put the problem aside temporarily and call everyone to stand up.

After taking the tray handed to him by the eunuchs, he went to another tent to change clothes.

Seeing Li Zicheng go out, Yuan Zongyi grabbed Niu Jinxing's arm, apologized to Youtong, and followed him out.

Looking at the little movements of these two people, Yutong couldn't help but laugh.

However, that smile seemed a little sinister.

Outside the tent, Yuan Zongde did not go to find Li Zicheng, but took Niu Jinxing to a remote corner.

"Military Advisor, what do you think of this reward?"

Niu Jinxing said nonchalantly: "Of course I stand and watch, how else can I watch it?"

"you........"

Yuan Zongde became anxious when he heard this.

"You just admit it? We followed Li Zicheng all the way from Shaanxi, but there is no share of this reward for us!"

"What did you say when you advised me? You said that at least I could be promoted to a commander, but what about now? Not even a fart, can you bear it?"

Niu Jinxing rolled his eyes at him: "I can't bear it, so what can I do?"

"With you and me, can we really rebel against the heaven?"

Chapter 598 Let me ask you, can the battle be resolved in one hour?

Yuan Zongde's teeth were grinding and his fists were clenched together involuntarily.

"But if the emperor doesn't reward us, how are we going to explain this to our brothers after we return?"

"Okay, don't think too much. What's yours will be yours sooner or later. If it's not yours, there's no point in forcing it."

Niu Jinxing smiled, patted him on the shoulder a few times, then turned and went to the tent where Li Zicheng was.

The news that Li Zicheng had been rewarded had spread, and the entire camp became restless.

The captains and thousand-man commanders in the army also had their own ideas.

Some were wondering whether they would also be rewarded, while others had the same idea as Niu Jinxing.

After Li Zicheng, Gao Yigong and Li Guo changed into their official uniforms, they returned to the big tent, only to find that Yuan Zongde was missing.

"Where's Lao Yuan?"

Li Zicheng asked Niu Jinxing who was standing at the door.

Niu Jinxing stuck his head out of the tent and found that Yuan Zongde did not come back with him.

After thinking about it, he didn't take it seriously and answered casually, "Maybe he had a stomachache."

Sitting in the main seat, Youtong listened to their conversation, smiling without saying a word.

Behind him, a eunuch took out a telegraph machine from the box behind him and started fiddling with it.

The chaotic sounds attracted Li Zicheng and others to look over here.

Li Guo was young and not very steady, so he approached the eunuch and asked.

"Excuse me, sir, what is this?"

The eunuch ignored him and just focused on his own business.

Yu Tong's voice came from the side: "This thing is called a telegraph machine. It can transmit messages dozens of miles away in an instant."

As he spoke, he looked down at the watch on his hand.