A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 851
On February 21, the capital was suddenly cold and snowed, and countless people froze to death.

At this time, the bandits swept across the Daming Mansion, and everywhere in the Shunde Mansion, Beijing strictly forbade lying.Emperor Chongzhen told the Ministry of the Academy to ensure the safety of the people in Guyu, and all the officials were inspected.According to the strict screening of the subordinate officials, those who must be honest, conscientious and good, and respected by the people, will be allowed to stay in office.

He also told the Ministry of Officials: "I think that Henan and Chu are dilapidated, and the prefectures and counties need people to take care of themselves. The governors and officials will choose by themselves. They don't care about the subjects and the miscellaneous. Those who restore a prefecture or county will be given the magistrate of the prefecture and county, and will be rewarded for their meritorious deeds.

He assigned ten members of the inner palace to supervise the towns, and ordered all the cities in Jifu to recruit and strengthen the city guards.

On the 22nd, Taikangbo Zhang Guoji received 1 taels of silver and was granted the title of Marquis.

On the 26th, Fan Zhiwan, the governor of Jiliao, reported the urgent barbarian situation. The military department copied it, and Chen Xinjia, Minister of the Ministry of War, inscribed it. According to the imperial decree: "The barbarian situation is unpredictable, and it must be strictly investigated."

On the 28th, Chen Xinjia, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, confronted Chen Yin and asked him to retire.First of all, Xinjia was worried about the bandits, and repeatedly asked to call Yongning Marquis Dou, but he refused to listen, so he asked to go.Give 50 taels of travel expenses, go back to the station, and go west to Shanxi, Xuanfu.Promoted Zhang Jinyan to be Minister of the Ministry of War.

On the 29th, the Ministry of War reported that according to a report from Yang Guozhutang, the chief soldier of Jizhen, Kang Youde, the former sentry officer, saw the bandit campfire at Tulijiaer, which was about [-] miles long, fearing that the bandit would invade. Yu is extremely vigilant.

According to the imperial decree: "Slave chieftains are forcing the entrances of the critical ridge. It is advisable to urgently rectify the resources for military preparations and rush to the side wall to strengthen the momentum of solidarity. We should still make sure to investigate and prepare to prevent accidents."

Engineering Gao Xianghan said: "Slaves and thieves will again enter the fortress. Ningyuan is approaching, and cold-mouthed approaching. Don't show weakness, and send troops to the south. Is it a strange plan?"

Kou was in a hurry, and the courtiers originally intended to transfer Yang Guozhu and Wu Sangui to help, so they stopped.

On the [-]th, Zhang Jinyan, Minister of the Ministry of War, said: "Today, the food and salaries are interrupted, and the soldiers and horses are at a loss. The governors and officials are about to unload their burdens. If ten ministers are added at one time, not only will the material resources be unsustainable, but also the power of affairs will be divided, which will make the governors Excuse." Shang refused to listen.

On the first day of March, Li Jiantai and others asked to move south, and Yan Dongguan supervised Nanjing.

Looking at it briefly, he said angrily: "What do the ministers usually say? If the country is like this today, there is no loyal minister and righteous man to share the worries of the court, but the plan is like this. The death of the husband and the king is the righteousness of the past and the present. Say more."

On the second day of the first day of the lunar new year, the people of Xianghe River made noise, burning and looting all the official and private houses.

The capital is full of turmoil, rumors of thieves are coming, but the courtiers are confused, the government center, officials and lawsuits are held all day long, and they are as happy as usual.The Department of Factory Guards of the Ministry of Shangming arrested all the officials to ridicule the traitors, and applied the law of strictly protecting the armor, setting up patrols in the alleys, prohibiting night travel, and inspecting warehouses and pastures.

On the fifth day of the lunar new year, Han Ruyu, a minister of science, made a false edict in the first year of Yongchang. Participate in rectification."

On the same day, he inspected the defense of the capital and paraded troops at the Xuanwumen teaching ground, but he was very happy to see the disciples in the capital camp.

On the seventh day of the lunar new year, Li Guozhen, the uncle of Xiangcheng, was ordered to supervise the city guards, and the internal supervisor and various officials were ordered to guard the nine gates, with one honorary minister and two Qing Yas in each gate.When discussing the militia for the first time, Wei Zaode, an academician, said: "The people are afraid of thieves. If one person walks away, the big thing will go away."

He also ordered civil and military support, set up a yellow silk book, recruited hundreds of officials to help, and sealed off the border for serious offenders, all of whom were promised redemption.

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, order Xun Qi Da Dang to help pay, enfeoffed Qi Chen Jiading Bo Zhou Kui as Marquis, and sent eunuch Xu Gao to declare for help. In case of urgency.

Zhou Kui said: "The old minister has more gold."

Gao wept again and again, Kui Jian resigned, and Gao Fu suddenly got up: "The old imperial family is so mean, the big thing is gone, what's the benefit of accumulating more and producing more?"

Kui had no choice but to donate ten thousand gold.

On March [-], bandits from Kexiong County, Wen'an, and Jinghai called Tang Tong and Wang Pu to lead troops into the guard.

At that time, in the counties and counties south of the capital, the lookout collapsed, and the officials were either demoted or fled, but they were true and stable.

Letters from soldiers arrived repeatedly, and the cabinet either frowned at each other, or talked and laughed as usual. Fan Jingwen raised several proposals to move south.Zhang Jinyan, my soldier, has no other arrangements, but to show his troops along the street, set up artillery, set up camps at the entrances of alleys, and hang curtains on the city to wait for the thieves to arrive.

On the [-]th, Liu Zongmin, the puppet general, moved to the capital and said: "It is scheduled to enter the city on the [-]th, and it will be temporarily paid at the Youzhou Guild Hall." The capital was shaken.

Li Zicheng, the Pseudo-Shun King, said to all the prefectures and counties: "Inform the people in the villages, don't panic, if our soldiers arrive, we will trade fairly, and we will never commit adultery and looting. If you put the head gun, you must be greeted by Zhengyin officials, and the second gun township officials will welcome you. , the common people of the three guns greeted them."

……

Dingxibo Tang Tong was stationed in Miyun Town at this time. After the 14th Jinzhou War in Chongzhen, Tang Tong was made an earl, and he lived quite comfortably in Miyun for the past two years.Avoid all kinds of wars if you can, and trade with Donglu, Xinyongning City and other places in your free time. Although there is no extravagance, you can live a happy life.

But this peaceful life was broken. The capital was less than [-] miles away from Miyun, and Tangma arrived in one day. Therefore, after the emperor called Tang Tong into the guard on the [-]th, what was in front of Tang Tong would be a story about his fate. A choice puzzle with a twist.

Tang Tong now has more than 8000 soldiers and horses, except for [-] horses from his main barracks, the rest has two battalions, all of which are relatives of his Tang family, so the Miyun army has always been united.It is impossible for Tang Tong to be the master of such a major matter related to the choice of fate, so in addition to his own general Tang Zong, the generals of the two battalions rushed to the earl's mansion to discuss major matters.

Tang Tong is eloquent and has a cautious personality. He is cautious in doing anything that affects his subordinates, and tries to consider all aspects.So when Tang Tong talked about the matter, everyone was entangled in how to make a choice.They also understood that they had to make a choice as soon as possible. After all, the bandits were as powerful as a bamboo, and they would soon hit the capital.

As a result of the final negotiation, they surrendered to the Dashun Kingdom.

They can see very clearly that the capital is absolutely unable to stop the Dashun army from attacking. Dashun swept everywhere like a dead man. It's the mantis' arms acting as a cart, and it's just broken in vain.

Those who know current affairs are Junjie.

Of course, it was clear that the capital was about to fall, and the Ming Dynasty was about to perish. In fact, they still had another choice, which was to flee west and join Yongning Hou Wangdou.

But Tang Zong said it well, Wang Dou is just a marquis, what can he give to his lord?Could he still make the lord a marquis, or even a prince?He can't give anything!However, everything is possible in Dashun, after all, there is a new era and a new atmosphere.

He also admitted that Marquis Yongning is very strong, but in the face of the general trend, the rebel army swept the world, many officials and generals were defeated by their soldiers, presumably Marquis Yongning would be the most struggling to hold on.It is even possible that the Xuan Mansion will fall, the Duhu Mansion will fall, and become a prisoner of the lower ranks.

These words reached Tang Tong's heart, he thought that if he went to vote for Wang Dou, he would really not get any benefits, and the soldiers and horses might even be dismantled and sent to some kind of loyalty camp.This makes people feel creepy when they think about it. Without soldiers, what is Tang Tong?
Thinking of his experience with Wang Dou, he realized that the two of them were just casual acquaintances, and even had conflicts. If Yang Guozhu and others would still pay attention to Wang Dou, but he...

Tang Tong even faintly felt that Wang Dou looked down on him, which made him feel uncomfortable.

Forget it, Liu Liangzuo, Liu Zeqing and others can surrender, why can't I surrender?

But after all, he is a person who is used to being cautious. After thinking about it, he still said: "Why don't we follow the emperor's edict first, and our army and horses go to Gu'an to have a look. If the Dashun soldiers are really that strong, we will surrender sooner or later." .It is about the lives and wealth of thousands of brothers, so we have to be careful."

These words also dispelled the last trace of worry from everyone around him. Tang Zong and others praised: "The commander-in-chief is thoughtful and considerate of his brothers. It is really a blessing from the previous life to be able to follow the commander-in-chief in the end." edge."

Tang Tong waved his hands and said reservedly: "The soldiers are fierce and dangerous, if you can avoid fighting, it is better not to fight."

……

From the capital to Datong, there are complete post stations, especially after entering the Xuanfu, this road is even easier to walk.For seven hundred miles, Tangma rushed more than 200 miles a day. He set off from the capital on the [-]th and arrived in Datong on the [-]th. into Beijing.

"Finally remember me?"

After receiving the imperial edict, Wang Pu curled his lips. He asked people to receive the envoys, but he was not in a hurry to lead troops into the guard. Instead, he asked people to recruit his confidant, Chief of Staff Tian.

It took a long time for Chief of Staff Tian to arrive in a hurry, but after the Battle of Jinzhou, Wang Pu focused on economic construction, and was especially obsessed with cash crops such as tobacco. Many fields in Datong Fengzhen were converted from wheat to tobacco to satisfy the Xuanfu and the governor. The government's growing demand for smokers.

This attracted a group of cadres to follow suit. They were either in the fields or in shops and cigarette shops. There were fewer people in the barracks, and the Chief of Staff of the Field did not know where to go.

Chief of Staff Tian arrived in a hurry. He still had a goatee, but his face was much rosier than before.

Similarly, Wang Pu has gained a lot of weight in the past two years, and the two mustaches on his lips are shiny. The economic situation in Datong has been very good in the past two years, and Ding Xingbo has gained weight without knowing it. The image is lost.

After Wang Pu talked about King Qin's edict, he sipped his tea slowly and said slowly, "Chief of Staff Tian, ​​what do you think?"

Chief of Staff Tian habitually found the map and sand table in the lobby. He looked at it for a long time, but what he said was irrelevant: "Did the commander ask, has the emperor issued an order to Yongning Hou?"

Wang Pu's eyes lit up: "One word awakens the dreamer."

He put down the teacup, smiled and said: "That's it, the Marquis of Yongning sent troops, we sent troops. The Marquis of Yongning didn't send troops, so we don't either!"

Chief of Staff Tian just stroked his beard and smiled reservedly. At this time, the guards came to report, and the governor of Datong, Wei Jingyuan, asked to see him.

Wang Pu couldn't help frowning: "This smiling tiger is here again, is it annoying..."

……

On March [-]th, Bazhou and Tianjin fell, and the imperial edict was issued.

Tang Tong entered the guard with 8000 people, and ordered the eunuch Du Zhizhi to assist in guarding Gu'an, rewarding 40 taels of silver, and two coats of red python clothes and silk.It has 82 officers and soldiers, and the internal treasury issued 500 taels of silver, five coins per soldier.When Tang Tong saw it, he went up to offer condolences again and again, and assisted in guarding Yunyun.

On the [-]th, Yang E, governor of Shuntian, went out on a tour to change clothes and flee.

On the [-]th, Gu'an fell, and Tang Tong and Du Zhizhi fell.

On the same day, Wu Sangui hurriedly led thousands of elite cavalry into Shanhaiguan from Ningyuan.

On the [-]th day, the army of slaves who had been standing still, or only a small army of slaves attacking various cities, suddenly stormed Shanhaiguan and Jizhen.Ji Town is fine, but Shanhaiguan's troops are weak. Apart from the local township Yongwei and some battalions, there are only thousands of soldiers from Shanhaiguan, Dongping Bo Liu Zhaoji, who can fight.

However, compared with the mighty Tartar army outside the pass, there are still too few people in Shanhaiguan, which made Fan Zhiwan, governor of Jiliao who was in the pass at this time, very worried.He couldn't bear the risk of Shanhaiguan being lost, and there were no soldiers nearby, and Jibei Marquis Yang Guozhu couldn't get away with it, so he had to ask Wu Sangui in Ningyuan for help several times a day.

At this time, Wu Sangui and Qiu Minyang, governor of Liaodong, lived in Ningyuan City. The envoys who asked for help came desperately. They wept blood and wailed, which moved Wu Sangui and Qiu Minyang.

It is very risky to go out of the city to rescue, and Wu Sangui's army is actually not many. The Liao generals of the Wu family and the ancestor's family add up to only 3 people. They are still scattered in Jinzhou, Ningyuan and other places. 2000 people.

If these backbone soldiers and horses are depleted...

It's just that if they don't rescue them, if the Shanhai Pass is broken, they will lose contact with the pass and cut off their own way of retreat. This is also a risk that Wu Sangui and others cannot bear.After all, they know that today is different from the past, the bandits are heading north to the capital, and they are afraid that there will be no large-scale aid to Liao in the future, and if the back road is cut off, it will really be cut off.

So after discussing with Qiu Minyang for several days, it was finally decided that Qiu Minyang would stay in Ningyuan, and Wu Sangui himself led [-] cavalry to rush into Shanhaiguan to rescue...

After the bloody battle, Wu Sangui's face was quite cold and solemn, and his figure was dignified.

He rode on the horse, and compared to the past, he was more composed, and the demeanor of a child of the aristocratic family was undoubtedly revealed.

It's just that compared with previous years, the wrinkles on his face have increased a lot, and he looks quite windy, frosty, snowy and rainy.How can there be no burden to bear the interests of the Wu family, the ancestors' family and other generals, and even the interests of the entire Liaodong Group?His mind was exhausted, and he had aged rapidly since the Battle of Jinzhou.

At this time, he was on the horse, although he was calm, he was actually anxious inside, and he was worried about the situation.He knew that the bandits were as powerful as a broken bamboo, and they were almost at the foot of the capital, but he was not sure how long the capital would last, and now the tartars were taking advantage of the fire to loot.

Wu Sangui has been in the Liaodong Army for a long time, so he naturally knows their strategy.One is to desperately hold himself and Yang Guozhu and others to prevent himself from supporting the capital.The second is that if Shanhaiguan and Jizhen's defenses are empty, they don't mind and occupy the pass wall, and then sit back and lay chess pieces for future strategies.

The thieves and tartars were all aggressive, and the visitors were not kind, which made Wu Sangui feel even more worried.

He was particularly worried about the capital. After all, if the Ming Dynasty was destroyed, would the Liao salary of several million a year still be there?

If the capital is broken, what should I do?What will happen to the entire Liaodong army in the future?
Thinking of this, he was quite at a loss.

……

On the 40th, Wang Pu reported that he had fallen from a horse and injured him, and that the emperor rewarded him with [-] taels of medicine.

On the same day, the Jingbian army took over the city defenses of Juyongguan and Zijingguan.

At night, looking at Tongzhou in the distance, the sky was brightly lit, but the thieves banned plundering at night and divided their troops to plunder Tongzhou's grain storage.

The bandits are almost approaching the city.

(End of this chapter)