Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 43 The Two Kings
Xiangyang, since it was broken by Li Zicheng's Chuangjun, was renamed Xiangjing, and he called himself King Xinshun.

Years of fighting made him exhausted, but unlike other rioters, Li Zicheng was not willing to be attractive, even though he lived in Xiangwang Palace, he was still reserved.

However, the destruction after the invasion of Xiangyang still overwhelmed the Xiangwang Palace, with many collapses and it was difficult to meet the identity.

In this regard, Li Zicheng had no choice but to attack Xunyang, but because of Sun Chuanting in Guanzhong, he sent Gao Jie to lead the cavalry to rescue him, so he had to retreat.

After stationing troops in Xiangyang, Li Zicheng couldn't help holding a meeting to discuss the next step of marching strategy.

He sits high on the king's chair, his hands hang down to his knees, his hair is tied up, his face is rough, and his green-brown eyes are full of determination:
"Although it is the summer harvest, Henan has suffered from constant military disasters for many years. There are thousands of miles of people without people, and the Yellow River has been dug. The grain of Chengtian Mansion will not last long."

"Dajun, it's time to find a place to eat."

At this time, General Quan, second only to Generalissimo, Niu Jinxing, Li Zicheng's fellow villager and most trusted counselor, couldn't help striding forward, and said loudly:

"Now Dashun has strong soldiers and horses, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of cavalry. It can be said that there are all the best in the world."

"At present, the Ming court is nothing but Sun Chuanting's [-] Qin troops, who are trapped in the pass and are hesitating. The minister suggested that the army should go north, go straight to Beijing, and capture Emperor Chongzhen, so that the world can be conquered without any effort."

Li Zicheng nodded and said, "It makes sense."

Immediately, he looked at the crowd and said in a deep voice: "This matter concerns the future of the army, so don't be careless. You can speak freely, and we have our own choice."

Li Yan, the general of the Central Battalion at the side, hesitated and kept silent.

Now that Ming Dynasty is up and down, he feels a little sad in his heart, no matter what he says, he is also from Juren.

How could the imperial court support scholars for three hundred years?

Li Zicheng seemed to see his hesitation, turned his head, and asked Song Xiance, the chief military adviser: "Does the military adviser have a strategy?"

"Let's listen to what the audience thinks first!"

How could Song Xiance know these things? He learned alchemy and divination for good and bad fortune. He couldn't answer such strategic questions well.

And Yang Chengyu, a doctor of Qin Tianjian, came out and said: "My lord, the only place in the world that is rich and prosperous is the south of the Yangtze River. Ming Taizu became an emperor because of Nanjing, and then he went north and swept the world."

"However, following the example of the end of the Yuan Dynasty, as long as the water transportation is cut off, the city of Beijing will collapse without a fight, and the world will be at hand at that time?"

Hearing these words, Li Zicheng couldn't help but stroked his beard and laughed.

The generals also began to clamor: "Jiangnan is good, the beauty has a lot of gold and silver?"

"Brother, go to Jiangnan!"

Liu Zongmin, Tian Jianxiu and other generals were extremely happy.

At this moment, Gu Jun'en, a newly joined Bagong student, hurriedly cupped his hands and came out and said, "Your Majesty, although Liudu is a famous place in the world, it is ranked in the bottom of the world, and it is difficult to achieve great things. The strategy is too slow. "

"The land in the south of the Yangtze River is narrow, and it is difficult to deploy a large army. Instead, it will be divided and surrounded by those Ming dogs. It is really not advisable for the Ming court to calmly mobilize troops to besiege."

"And if the Northern Expedition fails, there is no way to retreat."

"Then what do you say?"

Li Zicheng frowned, his broad face was rather hesitant, and it was really difficult to measure the next step he was about to take.

Gu Junen laughed, and he said loudly: "It's better to march into Guanzhong and return to the hometown of the king."

"Guanzhong is the foundation of the emperor. If you go west, you can seize Gansu, and if you go east, you can plunder Shanxi. If you advance, you can attack, or retreat, you can defend. When the time comes, leave a good general to garrison. The king will personally command the army to cross Shanxi and enter Beijing. This is the perfect strategy. "

"Okay—" These words were said to Li Zicheng's heart, he clapped his hands and said happily:

"Shaanxi is the best land in the world. It was corrupted by corrupt officials. I still think about the millet in northern Shaanxi..."

The other generals from northern Shaanxi also shouted loudly, saying happily:
"As the saying goes, if you are rich, you don't return to your hometown. It's like walking in the night in brocade clothes. Now that we are generals, and the king has become a king, we should go home to meet our relatives and friends, and make them rich."

Even Niu Jinxing couldn't help being moved. His hometown is also in northern Shaanxi.

Seeing that the expressions of the other counselors were not right, Li Zicheng hurriedly stopped the noise, and then said seriously: "In the northern part of Shaanxi, I know very well that the soldiers on the three sides are elite. If they don't get rid of them, even if they go north, they will be the enemy."

"Besides, Sun Chuanting's [-] troops in Xi'an is a serious problem in his heart. If it is not resolved, how can he go to Beijing with peace of mind?"

Hearing this, everyone suddenly nodded their heads in admiration.

Therefore, the new regime established a strategy of taking Guanzhong first, then Gansu and Shanxi, and finally Beijing.

"Report, General Quan Li Guo returns to the city to return!"

"Let him in—" Li Zicheng was overjoyed and hurriedly said.

"Reporting to Uncle, the boy has already cut off the head of that bastard Luo Rucai, come here to return."

Li Guo reported eagerly.

He is Li Zicheng's nephew, but he is six years older than Li Zicheng, so he is very close.

"Okay!" Li Zicheng patted his nephew on the shoulder, "It's been hard work, please sit in the queue, let's discuss how to call home!"

……

At this moment, a raging fire broke out in Wuchang City.

The Chu Palace, which used to be the most famous in Huguang, has already ignited a raging fire. The beautiful palace has already become history.

The huge city of Wuchang was also engulfed in a sea of ​​flames. The common people and wealthy households were in a panic, and the casualties were immeasurable.

"Spare me, spare me!" King Chu scrambled and scrambled, and was escorted up.

"Sink all of this family into the river for me, and see the Dragon King!"

Zhang Xianzhong glanced at the fat King Chu with disgust, waved his hand, and sentenced him to death.

Soon, dozens of members of King Chu's family were forced to drown in the river, and the remaining thousands of fellow clansmen were also slaughtered, and the river bank of Wuchang was stained with blood.

Only Li Dingguo, with a young face, hesitated a lot, poured his glass into his sleeve while toasting.

Sun Kewang narrowed his eyes and flickered a little.

"Father, from the Palace of the King of Chu, he got more than six million taels of silver, hundreds of thousands of gold, and countless jewels."

Sun Kewang looked at this majestic man and couldn't help reporting.

"Scatter it, throw it all—"

Without frowning, Zhang Xianzhong waved his hand and said, "Distribute all the money to the refugees, recruit troops, and build a navy."

"Yes!"

Everyone complied, not daring to disobey in the slightest.

"From today onwards, I am the King of Daxi, and Wuchang will be changed to Tianshou Mansion, and Jiangxia will be changed to Shangjiang County."

Zhang Xianzhong was very ambitious, and at this moment, he felt that the great cause could be expected.

Immediately, he followed Li Zicheng's example and set up six and five army governor's offices, and even conducted imperial examinations to select Jinshi.

And with the addition of his previous sprinkling of gold and silver, for a time, the entire Wuchang Mansion was full of joy, with strong soldiers and horses, nearly 200,000.

For a time, the rebel army was divided into two hills, each claiming to be the king, and the next day, the rebels became more and more shaken.

(End of this chapter)