Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 297 Bitterness Beneath Deliciousness

Finally, Li Zicheng once again unified his thinking, reversed his direction, and headed northwest impatiently.

Followed by Li Jingwu's cavalry battalion and You Shiwei's Yulin battalion.

The rest of the people couldn't withstand the hardships of long-distance raids and the terrible food shortage, so they had to give up this attractive fruit.

Li Zicheng at this moment was like a dog running away from home, extremely distressed.

Of course, the joy of restoring Xi'an City's name to Xi'an is not over yet, and His Royal Highness King Yu once again fell into deep thought.

The huge Shaanxi Province was decided almost at the moment of Li Zicheng's defeat. Similarly, the extremely corrupt Shaanxi Province was placed directly in front of his eyes.

Among the three sides, Yansui (Yulin) and Ningxia Second Township, with tens of thousands of frontier troops, came rushing with distress letters like snowflakes:

The Mongolian Tartars attacked the border.

Similarly, they begged the king of Yu openly and secretly to pay the food that was in arrears for many months, and there was a shortage of food in winter.

That's all, in Yan'an Mansion, they even directly asked for money and food support, and the county government offices were already unable to work, and there was a severe shortage of food.

"The two towns of Yansui and Ningxia still have more than [-] approved soldiers, and the military salary owed over the years has reached a huge amount of one million taels."

Feng Xianzong was amazed in his heart, and said in detail.

The corruption of the frontier army was beyond his imagination.

Similarly, Zhu Yixi also had a headache.

Since the Manchu Qing conquered the Mongols, the number of Tartars in the Hetao area has increased, but northern Shaanxi is also poor, and there is no money to be found, and the number of tartars is less.

The goal of the Mongolian Tartars has now changed from gaining benefits to political harassment. For Shaanxi Province, it can fall if you are not careful.

"The frontier army must not let them continue to behave badly."

King Yu picked up the tea, took a sip, and said decisively: "From the treasury, 100,000 taels of silver will be withdrawn, and the military salary for several months will be reissued for the time being."

"For food and grass, the two towns will each lose [-] shi. Let's get through this winter and talk about it!"

Feng Xianzong wrote quickly. As the deputy head of the staff department, he was almost the same as the secretary, conveying His Royal Highness King Yu's instructions on military affairs.

"By the way, how much food is left in the treasury?"

"His Royal Highness, less than 300,000 stones."

Feng Xianzong said helplessly: "With [-] captives and [-] troops, at most one and a half months, the army rations will be in short supply."

"Ugh!"

Zhu Yixi sighed, this is really a mess.

"Send troops to Hanzhong as soon as possible to wipe out those intruders. I hope Hanzhong Mansion can bring some food over!"

Border troubles, food shortages, and weed-like thieves in northern Shaanxi, these three stubborn diseases have almost exhausted Shaanxi Province.

What is pleasing for the time being is that the huge vassal system has completely collapsed and no longer draws nutrients from the thin Shan Province.

This is also the reason why Li Zicheng had to go south after tearing his face apart. The barren Shaanxi Province really couldn't support hundreds of thousands of troops and a large court.

Of course, in today's plan, the role of Shaanxi merchants has been revealed.

The king of Yu asked that they must produce 500,000 shi of grain to meet the needs of the army.

Similarly, as a reward, it is Dingbian's share of green salt, that is, lake salt mined in Shaanxi for more than 2000 years, which almost meets the salt demand of the Northwest.

For the gentry, today's temporary allies, Zhu Yixi bought their grain reserves at a high price to maintain the needs of Xi'an city.

"March to northern Shaanxi!"

With a swipe of his pen, His Royal Highness King Yu directly used the order to transport food to force people into the border.

Zhu Meng went to Yansui Town, and Liu Tingjie went to Ningxia Town to sit in the frontier army and improve the entire frontier defense line again.

Shaanxi Province, which is economically sluggish, can no longer be baptized by the Tartars, and it is imperative to guard against the Tartars.

Just when he was about to take a breather, news came from the army that Li Zicheng's brother-in-law, Gao Yigong, had been captured.

"Gao Yigong?"

Zhu Yixi was taken aback, then smiled.

It can be said that Li Guo is Li Zicheng's right-hand man. Li Guo has been killed by himself, and now Gao Yigong is also captured. It can be said that it is fate.

"Temporarily imprisoned."

Zhu Yixi said: "After all, he is considered a big man, so don't insult him."

"As ordered!"

"Your Highness, Prince Qin's Mansion has been tidied up, you can move in now."

Chen Dong rushed over and shouted.

"It is not necessary to enter the palace."

Zhu Yixi was a little hesitant.

On the side, Feng Xianzong said directly: "His Royal Highness, the Prince Qin's Mansion has a supernatural status, it is the nominal lord of Shaanxi Province, and it represents the imperial court..."

"That's it."

Zhu Yixi frowned, and could only respond: "Then go live!"

"By the way, Li Zicheng's family members have to make proper arrangements."

"Yes!" Feng Xianzong was taken aback, doubts arose in his heart.

Why did King Yu specifically mention women?
By the way, King Yu set off from Huguang. In the past two months, he has hardly touched any meat. There are several women in Xiangyang who are pregnant early. I am afraid they are young and vigorous...

Almost without much hesitation, he made up his mind.

At night, the empty King Qin's Mansion looked lonely, but the army was almost one step at a time, making the place extremely stable, and no one could endanger King Yu's life.

Gao Guiying and Dou Meiyi were dragged into the side hall. The empty palace filled them with fear.

"Sister, why is this?"

Dou Meiyi trembled all over, and her plump body trembled.

"Hmph, nothing more than a man's virtue."

Gao Guiying's pupils shrank, and she said forcefully, "Don't give in, we've already been Chuangwang people."

As she spoke, she closed her eyes and rested her mind, ignoring the entanglement on the other side's face.

"boom--"

At this time, a soldier threw a jade pendant, which looked extremely crisp in the palace.

"This?" Gao Guiying snorted coldly in her heart, picked it up and looked at it, and her face changed drastically in an instant.

This is the personal jade pendant of younger brother Gao Yigong, it has been passed down from the family and cannot be imitated.

"Have you been captured?"

She was so shocked that she was speechless.

"Sister, what's wrong?"

Dou Meiyi asked tremblingly.

"nothing!"

Gao Guiying forced herself to be calm, pretending to be strong and said.

Dou Meiyi wanted to ask again, but seeing her dazed look, she had no choice but to give up.

After a long time, looking at the cold and empty palace, Dou Meiyi couldn't help it, she took trembling steps and came to the front of the palace:

"I want to take a shower and change clothes!"

At night, Zhu Yixi rubbed his tired eyes, put down the case, and walked slowly to the bedroom.

"Huh?" He was taken aback suddenly, the lights in the hall were brightly lit, which seemed a little strange.

On the bed, there seemed to be a person wrapped in the brocade quilt.

"Hang up—"

When he opened it, he saw a plump and delicate body, like a white lamb, with a mature figure, exuding a seductive peach flavor, which aroused pity.

"I hope His Highness will take pity on you!"

There was a trace of tenderness and pity on the woman's charming face.

Zhu Yixi frowned, and asked, "Who are you?"

Dou Meiyi was taken aback, got up with a thousand gestures, and saluted naked, standard without losing the sense of beauty, and said bitterly:

"The concubine was originally a sixth-rank female official in the Ciqing Palace, but was kidnapped by intruders and became a concubine!"

(End of this chapter)