After the terrible news that Li Zicheng defeated the Ming army, swept across Shaanxi and Gansu, and established the Dashun Kingdom in Xi'an, Emperor Chongzhen was almost shocked to collapse.

For a whole day and night, the supreme ruler of the Ming Dynasty did not enter the water or eat the rice. He just sat blankly in the East Warehouse, as if he had already sat in a melt.

It’s hateful! Li Zicheng, a cattle herder on the Loess Slope, was unable to be wiped out by the government army after more than ten years of hard expeditions and suppression. Instead, it has made it stronger and stronger. Until now, Xi’an established a country and established politics.

This postman who was abolished by the Ming Dynasty was so incredibly able to compete with him. Could it be that he was really the nemesis of the Ming Dynasty? Or did he really have enough energy to be exhausted in his hands for more than 270 years of founding the country?

Chongzhen suddenly felt a whizzing coolness from his waist to his neck. In this warm mid-spring season, his whole body was cold, as if it had frozen into ice.

Now, there is a more realistic and serious problem that is in front of him. That is, what does Li Zicheng, who has already established a country and established a capital to be the emperor?

Is he satisfied with being alone in Shaanxi, and his personal ambitions and selfish desires. Or would he think, taking advantage of this army to boost the momentum of the new establishment of the puppet dynasty and immediately lead the army to advance eastward, attack Shanxi and Xuanfu, and finally point directly to the capital?

No, we must not let Li Zicheng send troops eastward so smoothly. We must find ways to wipe out this beast. At least we must strangle this guy to the west bank of the Yellow River. Even if this guy jumps hard, he can only jump all over Shaanxi, and we must not let him threaten the capital.

"Transfer my order and I asked Feng Yuanbiao, Minister of War, to come in to see you."

"Sister obeys the order."

Since the war between Sun Chuanting, the Minister of War, Emperor Chongzhen could not find a suitable candidate for successor to the Minister of War among the court, so he could only treat the old and sick right minister Feng Yuanbiao, who was a child, and promoted him to the Minister of War.

The reason why he chose Feng Yuanbiao, who was old and sick, was actually the heart of Emperor Chongzhen. After Sun Chuanting finally died for the national war, he felt ashamed and regretful.

It turned out that when Emperor Chongzhen issued a series of decrees to Sun Chuanting on the same day, forcing him to wipe out Li Zicheng, most of the ministers in the court were timid and silent, with only Zhang Fengxiang, the left minister of the Ministry of War, and Feng Yuanbiao, the old right minister of the Ministry of War, both of them raised objections to the emperor.

Compared to Zhang Fengxiang, who was straightforward, he wrote a fierce letter to oppose the emperor, but was severely scolded by the emperor. Feng Yuanbiao, who was much older and already an old man in the officialdom, was much more sleek.

He first listened quietly to the emperor's statement and nodded frequently to show his agreement with the emperor's point of view. However, when the emperor said that if the soldiers do not fight, the thieves will become stronger, and if the soldiers fight for a long time, they will become cowardly, Feng Yuanbiao immediately interrupted and said, "Since Your Majesty knows the current situation, the soldiers are cowardly and have not been in the procession, it is better to cause thieves than to cause thieves. Therefore, the ministers think that although Sun Shangshu has elite soldiers and generals, the most suitable strategy at this moment is to keep the troops in motion, hold on to the waiting for assistance, and slowly plan to make it happen.

Chongzhen was so embarrassed by his cunning confrontation that he was quite embarrassed. Before he could scold him, Feng Yuanbiao knelt before the emperor's throne and replied loudly: "Your Majesty, my humble words are all out of my heart. If there is a defilement, please go to the prison first, wait for a battle to win, and behead me and thank me."

Feng Yuanbiao's hard and soft attitude made Chongzhen's face turn whiter. He wanted to punish him, but he felt it was not suitable, so he could only criticize the matter on the surface.

Feng Yuanbiao observed his face and looked at him. After returning from the palace, he immediately stayed at home while sick, so as to stop attending court again, so as not to get upset in Chongzhen when he saw him.

Unexpectedly, the situation in Shaanxi was really as Feng Yuanbiao said. Sun Chuanting's entire army was wiped out, and the entire Shaanxi and Gansu were completely lost. Now Emperor Chongzhen recalled Feng Yuanbiao's words, and his regret was so good.

So, after several days of consideration, Chongzhen finally wiped his face and issued an imperial edict, and appointed Feng Yuanbiao, the Right Assistant Minister of War, to be promoted to the Minister of War. However, although Feng Yuanbiao was promoted to the Minister of War, Chongzhen still did not trust him very much. When Feng Yuanbiao further proposed that the left censor Li Banghua and the right assistant censor Kefa both joined the Ministry of War, Chongzhen refused.

Because the suspicious emperor was worried that Feng Yuanbiao's move would use the emperor's favor to expand his own power, so he immediately opposed it.

When Feng Yuanbiao saw that the emperor was just promoting himself to a nominal minister of the Ministry of War, he knew his suspicion and distrust of the emperor. Therefore, he was disheartened and had been sick at home for several days, just like before.

Therefore, when he heard that the emperor was about to summon him urgently, he was a little unresponsive. However, after a long time in the officialdom, he immediately understood what the emperor's real purpose of summoning him was.

Feng Yuanbiao entered the palace with illness and wanted to kneel down in front of the elixir steps, but was stopped by the emperor.

"E Tao, now that bandits are so rampant, they have rebelled in Shaanxi. It is really hateful. I would like to ask you, as the Minister of War, how should you control the current situation? What are the strategies for it?" The emperor had a tense face and his voice was very low.

Feng Yuanbiao glanced secretly at the emperor sitting on the dragon throne with a dim expression. He sighed in his heart, and didn't know how to reply for a moment.

Perhaps, to be more precise, it was the current situation that made him no longer know how to answer.

Fortunately, when he was embarrassed and speechless and did not know how to answer, the emperor's words continued: "E Tao, now the bandits have occupied Shaanxi and Gansu, and our Ming official army is no longer able to fight. The current situation is so difficult and dangerous, isn't it too dangerous? Let me tell me, does this damn Li Zicheng just want to guard the northwest corner and become a pseudo-emperor, or have greater ambitions to cross the Yellow River, rush troops to attack Shanxi and Xuanfu, and finally attack the capital?"

Hearing this from the emperor's mouth, Feng Yuanbiao felt a little relieved. He trembled and raised his head, thought carefully for a while, then lowered his head and replied: "Report to the emperor, the empress, the empress thinks that the bandits had just built a pseudo-nation country and were full of energy. How could they be satisfied with defending a corner of Shaanxi and Gansu? They will definitely flow eastward to the Yellow River, invade Shanxi and Xuanfu, and their final goal is to directly attack the capital."

After hearing Feng Yuanbiao's words, Chongzhen's face turned pale.

In fact, in his heart, he had never thought that the bandits had developed so vigorously that Li Zicheng had hundreds of thousands of soldiers, so how could he be satisfied with defending this corner of Shaanxi and Gansu? However, when such affirmative words were spoken from Feng Yuanbiao, Emperor Chongzhen's heart still felt an inexplicable sting.

what to do?

The situation is so urgent and dangerous now, what else can I do?!

"E Tao, then, according to your opinion, if the bandits really cross the east to attack, how will our Ming official army defend it?"

After hearing the emperor's hastily questioned, Feng Yuanbiao sighed in his heart. His turbid eyes blinked and immediately replied loudly: "For the sake of the plan, the only feasible way is to make our Ming Dynasty Ping Liao King withdraw his troops from the Qing territory, gather his elite soldiers and generals, and hurry to Xuanfu and other places in Shanxi to barely stop the bandits from the east!"

When Chongzhen heard Feng Yuanbiao's words, his entanglement and helplessness were almost indescribable.

Alas, it seems that at this moment, the Ming Dynasty's official army is no longer able to fight against the bandits. The only thing that can be counted on and supported is Li Xiao, a guy who once rebelled against him. Real luck is what can he do?

Seeing the emperor silent, Feng Yuanbiao thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty, now King Ping Liao Li Xiao is in the Qing Dynasty, and has successively captured Yingkou, Haicheng, Zhenyuanbao and other places, which has caused the Qing army to lose its courage. It has really greatly increased the morale of our Ming Dynasty! Moreover, some time ago, the soldiers and horses of King Ping Liao killed the Qing chief Huang Taiji in Vladivostok. This is a great contribution of the founding of the Heavenly Kingdom. I am thinking that if Your Majesty wants to eliminate the bandits and eliminate the leader of the rebellion, Li Zicheng, will have to use Li Xiao more than anyone else!"

Hearing Feng Yuanbiao speak so earnestly, Chongzhen also agreed secretly. However, he was suspicious and asked subconsciously: "E Tao, in your opinion, how should I use Li Xiao?"

"Your Majesty, I think you should give Li Xiao a lot of rewards to give him a lot of titles and salaries to win his heart. At the same time, the summons will be sent back to his country and go to Shaanxi and Gansu to resist the bandits. At the same time, the emperor needs to express his remarks that he will not control or interfere with Li Xiao and his troops, and he will command Li Xiao himself to eliminate his suspicion. And when necessary, let other Ming officials and soldiers help him fully. How can he make Li Xiao serve the Ming Dynasty safely and make his troops willing to be loyal to the country? I have been thinking about it, this is the best strategy."

When Chongzhen heard this, he nodded slightly, but asked again: "My dear, if he had just ordered the withdrawal of troops, then Li Xiao finally managed to conquer so many places in the Qing Dynasty. Wouldn't he have to throw them to the Qing captains for nothing? In this case, wouldn't it give the Qing court a new breath?"

Feng Yuanbiao shook his head and sighed: "Oh, Your Majesty, there are some priorities, how can you just look at the front of you? I'm looking at it. Although the Tartars are a great rebellion and evil person, compared with the bandits of Li Zicheng's tribe who established a pseudo-state, compared with the current critical situation of our Ming Dynasty, it can barely be regarded as a skin disease. The real trouble of our Ming Dynasty is the bandits of Li Zicheng's tribe in Shaanxi and Gansu. This is the most dangerous and important issue that needs to be solved immediately. How could the emperor be so wise about the interests between the two? I'm so straightforward to say that if the Xuanfu in Shanxi is all fallen, and even the capital falls into the enemy, then what is the significance of Pang Liao King even if he pacified Liaodong and destroyed the Qing court?'

Feng Yuanbiao paused and continued: "Emperor, the King of Ping Liao Li Xiao is an extremely smart and current affairs person. How could he not tell the difference? How could he not know that the bandits have become the beginning of the world now, how dangerous is it to the entire country? Besides, if the King of Ping Liao temporarily lost the land of the Qing army seized, he could successfully defeat Li Zicheng, defend Xuanfu and Shanxi, and keep the capital safe. Then, he could obtain a stable and reliable rear, and in the future he could use troops to the Qing army again. What's the harm in such a temporary change?"

After Feng Yuanbiao finished speaking, he increased his tone and said to the end; "The emperor, forgive me for saying frankly that the thieves are so rampant now, this is a critical crisis of survival! I also ask the emperor to make a decision quickly and immediately send his father-in-law to pass the imperial edict, and immediately send the King of Ping Liao back to the country, and ask him to rush to Shaanxi and Gansu to suppress the bandits. This matter is infuriating and cannot be delayed!"

After hearing Feng Yuanbiao's words, Chongzhen stroked his beard and pondered for a while, then sighed with a serious expression: "I am the same in my heart as my words. But Li Xiao and his elite soldiers are far away in Liaodong, so it is not easy to be urgently transferred to Shaanxi and Gansu! What if Li Xiao and his subordinates are still on the road, the bandits have launched an attack and crossed the Yellow River to the east, what should I do?

The emperor's question was quite beyond Feng Yuanbiao's expectations. He was stunned for a moment and replied: "If so, the emperor could only select a minister who is in charge of the army from the court, as the supervisor, and lead the elite troops of the Beijing camp to resist for a while. After the Tang army arrived, he would then order him to hand over the defense with Li Xiao and lead the Beijing camp back."

Feng Yuanbiao's words are actually the same as not.

Because of such questions, almost everyone would answer them like this, and Chongzhen himself knew that this was almost the only way.

What's more, Feng Yuanbiao, an old official, did not point out who is the right candidate for the supervisor, so these words are actually of no practical value.

Chongzhen sighed deeply. He wanted to ask Feng Yuanbiao again who was the right candidate for the supervisor. At this moment, he suddenly thought of someone in his mind.

This person is Li Jiantai, the right minister of the Ministry of Personnel and the Grand Secretary of the East Pavilion.

In theory, Li Jiantai was greedy for life and fear of death. He had no talent for controlling generals, nor had he adapted to changes. He did not know the battle formation and did not know the tactics of war. It was a tragedy for such a person to be selected as the supervisor.

The reason why he was chosen by Chongzhen and decided to appoint him as his supervisor was only because he was a famous mogul in Shanxi.

When the military salary was short, the emperor took a fancy to his wealth and said that he had "breaking his family to relieve the national crisis."

On this day, Chongzhen sighed when he was in court, "I am not a king who destroyed the country, and everything is a sign of a destroyed country. My ancestors have suffered wind and rain, but they lose it once, but they will see it underground. I am willing to supervise my army and fight to the battle in person. I have no hatred on the battlefield, but I will die with my eyes and ears! But I don't know who can do it, and can destroy my family to relieve the national crisis?"

As soon as the emperor said this, the court was silent. When Li Jiantai heard this, he immediately understood the emperor's intention.

He thought that if the bandits fought to their hometown Quwo, then instead of letting the entire family business fall into the hands of the rebel farmers, it would be better to use these wealth that will soon be turned into nothing to gain a reputation for being anxious and righteous.

So he immediately pretended to be in front of the emperor at the court meeting and said, "My family is Quwo, I am willing to send private money and military funds, and not bother with official funds. Please bring it to the west."

Li Jiantai's performance left a deep impression on Chongzhen, so when Feng Yuanbiao talked about choosing a court official as the supervisor, Chongzhen almost subconsciously thought of him.

"I passed on my order and appointed Li Jiantai, the Grand Secretary of Dongge, as the military commander, and was appointed as the Minister of the Shangfang, and presented him with the sword of Shangfang. He immediately led the elite troops of the Beijing camp to Shanxi to resist the bandits, and personally attacked the people and calmed the chaos on my behalf. All the dispatches and rewards and punishments were not in the control of the army. The soldiers, horses, money and grains of the prefectures in Shanxi must be controlled by him. I admire this."
Chapter completed!