Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 30 Dealing with Liu Zeqing

Even though Zhu Youjian said so, he also hoped that Wu Sangui would find trouble with Li Zicheng.

In this way, the pressure on my side will be relieved.

However, Zhu Youjian is not afraid of angering Wu Sangui.

In order to give the people of the world a clear attitude, he killed Wu Sangui's family. He just wanted to let the gentry all over the world make a choice and force the gentry all over the world to refuse to cooperate with Wu Sangui.

As the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Youjian's attitude can have a great influence on the attitude of the gentry in a world where loyalty to the emperor is the mainstream.

Only in this way can the big bureaucrats and big landlords be prevented from falling to Jiannu's side.

Zhu Youjian will continue to express his attitude of completely breaking with Wu Sangui, so as to force the officials to do the same.

He asked all the officials to write memorials to reprimand Wu Sangui, and even ordered people to spread the article reprimanding Wu Sangui all over the world.

Not only that, Zhu Youjian also asked Li Banghua to send an envoy to contact Li Zicheng in secret. As long as Li Zicheng is willing, he can accept Li Zicheng's attachment, even the title of king.

"The common people think of governance, and all the officials think of peace. We Han people have to put aside our past suspicions and join us to save the country. There is no distinction between the north and the south, and there is no distinction between the old and the young. Everyone has the responsibility to kill the barbarian! Whether it is a thief or a barbarian, As well as literati and bureaucrats or traffickers and pawns, as long as they are willing to follow me to fight slavery, I can forgive their previous crimes!"

In this way, Zhu Youjian expressed his thoughts to Li Banghua and other officials accompanying him.

The officials accompanying Li Banghua, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, were used to doing everything according to the emperor's will. Even if they didn't understand, they only thought that they didn't understand well, so they didn't have any objections.

A general like Liu Fangliang was even more passionate when he heard it. He surrendered to Daming because he had no choice but to fear the emperor, but he never had a sense of belonging. Now Zhu Youjian gave him a reason, so that he knew what he was doing with the officials and gentlemen of Daming. To put it bluntly, it was to fight against Jiannu.

Therefore, the officials who followed him had a reason to accept Liu Fangliang and other generals who were born at the bottom. In fact, they were also very conflicted in their hearts. I attribute all this to the fact that I am following His Majesty's call and following His Majesty's will.

In this way, they can also have sufficient motivation to persuade their clansmen and even disciples to abandon part of their interests, cooperate with the common people, and jointly fight against the establishment of slavery.

The army following the south became very united because of Zhu Youjian as the backbone. Civil and military officials, generals and soldiers got along very well, talking about their ideals with each other.Some said that they would go home to farm after the war of Jiannu, and some said that they would resign from office and go back to seclusion after fighting Jiannu. How powerful are the tartars, whether they have rat tails, how to deal with these tartars, etc.

"Your Majesty, although the situation between China and the rest of the world is becoming more and more tense, all the officers and soldiers accompanying us to the south are full of enthusiasm and show no sign of decadence. From my point of view, my Ming Dynasty will definitely rise again because of this, and Your Majesty will eventually return the Son of Heaven. Let the people brighten up the universe!"

Li Banghua couldn't help saying this to Zhu Youjian.

However, Zhu Youjian let out a long breath: "It's relatively early to say this. Now these people can be so confident because of me, and everyone can only rely on each other to successfully withdraw to the south, but when they arrive in the south of the Yangtze River, there It is a gathering place for bureaucrats and gentry. Whether they can choose to cooperate with the common people is what I am most worried about. If these people were willing to give in to the poor in the north, how could the world be where it is today? Now I have left the wolf’s den. Will enter the tiger's den again."

"Your Majesty don't need to be so worried. The officials and gentry in the south of the Yangtze River are not monolithic. The conflict between the Donglin Party and the Eunuch Party is still raging. Your Majesty can mediate between them, and maybe you can reap the benefits of the fisherman; but now the four towns in Jiangbei But it is the biggest hidden danger at the moment, especially this Liu Zeqing, when His Majesty ordered him to enter the capital, he refused to obey the order!"

Zuo Zhongyun and Li Mingrui also spoke from the side at this time.

After hearing this, Zhu Youjian nodded thoughtfully. Now how to deal with Liu Zeqing is indeed a top priority. He couldn't help asking: "Where is Liu Zeqing's department currently stationed?"

"It was supposed to be stationed in Dezhou, but Liu Zeqing's army went all the way south from Linqing Prefecture to plunder in order to avoid intruders. Now they are temporarily stationed in Dongchang."

After Li Banghua, Shangshu of the Ministry of War answered, Zhu Youjian immediately opened the map, and after thinking for a while, he said: "Liu Zeqing is a camel dealer in nine countries. He doesn't see fish and doesn't cast nets. Now that Wu Sangui has surrendered and became a slave, he will definitely think that I will rely on him even more, and now that I have arrived in Jinan, he will not come to pick me up, I'm afraid it's just an excuse to get Da, so as to threaten me to give him an official promotion."

When Zhu Youjian said this, Zuo Zhongyun and Li Mingrui hurriedly said: "In that case, why doesn't Your Majesty fulfill his wish? Liu Zeqing knows that His Majesty relies on him, so he will definitely relax his vigilance without fear. His people will be defeated!"

"That's the case, why don't your majesty add Earl Liu Zeqing and let him meet with Xie En, and then we will take the opportunity to get rid of him, and the other army will be transferred to Dongchang and forced to land all of them, wouldn't it be the best of both worlds?" said Li Banghua, Minister of the Ministry of War.

Zhu Youjian looked up at Zhou Yuji, He Xin and Liu Fangliang: "What do you think?"

"The strategy that Da Sima and Zuo Zhongyun thought of is certainly very good, but I am thinking, what if Liu Zeqing doesn't come, His Majesty told us about the disposition of the commander-in-chief of the four towns in Jiangbei, if it is a reckless man like Gao Jie, maybe It's not difficult, but Liu Zeqing has always been cunning and defied the government first, so he won't let his guard down."

Zhou Yuji is a veteran after all, and he has the habit of thinking.

He Xin did not speak. As a eunuch, he was silent, and only said that he would obey His Majesty's orders.

Liu Fangliang on the side always despises the officers and soldiers, so he said: "Your Majesty, I have fought with Liu Zeqing's men and horses, and they are all a mob. They are just the defeated generals of my minister. If he can be captured without a fight, then let him go. The three guards can beat his ass to piss!"

"You guys, you have to have the self-confidence of Liu Fangliang. He Liu Zeqing will come as soon as he comes. If he doesn't come, he will be disobedient. Don't blame me for my thunderous tactics. To put it bluntly, this is a conspiracy. I want you to die. You I have to die, but in order to reduce Liu Zeqing's worries and let him have illusions, I still need to pretend."

As he said that, Zhu Youjian walked up to Zuo Zhongyun and Li Mingrui: "You draw up a decree, which roughly means to tell Liu Zeqing that in order to deal with the situation in the world, I will make him the King of Dongchang and take over the soldiers and horses in Shandong forever for me. Restrain Shandong's civil and military power, let him meet with Xie En, I have prepared a king's seal for him, and let his army go north to Jinan with the army, I will send 200 million rings of silver to Liu Zeqing!"

Li Banghua, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, couldn't help being shocked: "Your Majesty, isn't it a bit too much to directly become the king? And let him lead the army to the north, what if Liu Zeqing changes?"

"That's not the case, how can I lure the fish into the bait? We'll arrange things later, as long as Liu Zeqing takes the bait!"

After Zhu Youjian said it, he asked Li Mingrui to write the will, and then he, a close minister of the emperor, personally brought the will to Liu Zeqing.

(End of this chapter)