In the spring of the thirteenth year of Chongzhen, the footsteps of winter have gradually left. Spring is coming. The wind blowing from the south will soon dispel the severe cold in the north and south of the river, and the ice and snow on the earth will soon melt.

That is to say, when spring is approaching, in Taoyuan County on the bank of the Yellow River in the north of Nanzhili, two armies were facing each other across the river here ten days ago.

The confrontation is not between the Ming army and the Donglu, but the Ming army!

Ten days ago, just as the vanguard sent by Zhu Guoqiang arrived in Taoyuan, Hong Chengchou led tens of thousands of troops to the other side. Afterwards, he set up defenses on the other side of the river. Not only did he build fortifications on the Yellow River embankment, but he also dug out holes in the rear.

From that day on, the two sides had been facing each other in the Yellow River for tens of miles of trenches, with a large number of troops and fortifications deployed on both sides.

Looking at it, it can be said that there are three steps, one post, five steps and one sentry.

It's just that there are Ming troops on both sides of the river, but the flags of the Ming troops are different. One side has a big "Zhu" written on the flag, and the other side has a big "Hong" written on it. They are facing each other across the river, and on both sides of the river, I don't know.

How many people stared worriedly at the armies on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. On one side were the imperial officers and soldiers, and on the other were the troops led by Zhu Ciying, the prince of virtue who had established himself as the governor.

Although the imperial court had nearly 200,000 troops from Hong Chengchou and Lu Zhenfei, due to the sharp firearms and the reputation of the Ming army under the command of Prince De, the officers and soldiers did not dare to act rashly. However, these days

The Ming army camp on the north bank of the Yellow River suddenly increased in strength. Not only did a steady stream of troops arrive on the other side, it was really worrying.

Could it be another "Jingnan incident"?

Just when everyone was worried, when Hong Chengchou received the imperial edict at dusk, he felt as if a thunder had hit his head.

"...I will leave my current and other duties immediately and come to Beijing to listen to the survey. I admire this!"

When he received the order to thank him, Hong Chengchou couldn't help but sigh, and there were mixed feelings in his heart.

Your Majesty finally believed it!

In the past few days, he sent tens of thousands of cavalry to look for traces of the Donglu cavalry. They pursued and fought with the Donglu cavalry all the way. He also sent people to question Dorgon why he had betrayed his trust, but Dorgon argued

Said he never burned the sacred grove.

Not him? Then who is it?

In fact, in his mind, he even thought about whether it might be the man opposite him. Of course, this possibility was not impossible.

After all, this matter seems to be more beneficial to him. He supervises the division here every year, who can stop him from crossing the river?

No one can stop him, only yourself!

Could it be that he really set Kong Lin on fire?

But that article of his... Thinking of that article that made people's blood boil, Hong Chengchou couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.

"Good guy, that kid is too cruel."

Even after so many years of ups and downs in the officialdom, Hong Chengchou felt that the man was more vicious than he imagined. The many tricks he used were really...

The emperor would never die using such methods.

Oops, Your Majesty, you have fallen into a trap.

No, I must tell the emperor that I was wronged. It was Prince De who set the fire!

Not Dorgon!

It was definitely not him. Even if it was him, Dorgon, who set the fire, it cannot be said that it was Dorgon who set the fire. It must be his son, Prince De, who set the fire.

Despite his inner voice, who will believe him? Who will listen to what he says?

We can only wait until we get to the capital to tell the emperor these words.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but think of another thing: the emperor sent Fan Fucui to supervise the armies!

He knew that Fan Fucui didn't understand military affairs. Now he asked himself to supervise the armies. He just wanted to act like a "Lin Rong" on behalf of the emperor and win the favor of the emperor. How could such a person deal with the tiger and wolf army on the other side?

?

How can you deal with such a treacherous villain? That person will do anything and even use the dead... to kill people.

This person is so shameless!

But now he no longer needs to think about this, and no matter how much he thinks about it, he can't stop it. Thinking that he will be arrested and sent to prison, Hong Chengchou couldn't help but sigh.

"There is a lesson from the sky, there is a lesson from the sky. God! God..."

He didn't finish his words and sighed deeply. He had countless questions in his mind. For example, he wanted to ask Fan Fucui in person how he would deal with Prince De.

Of course, he wanted to tell Fan Fucide himself how cunning the Crown Prince was and to be careful not to fall into his tricks.

But he has no chance. Now he can only return to the capital with Zhongguan...

When the news came that Hong Chengchou had been arrested by the lieutenant, Zhu Guoqiang was immediately stunned by Ren Chongzhen's operation.

What does it mean to change generals on the spot?

"Who is Fan Fucui?"

"Minister!"

"Can you use soldiers?"

"Won't!"

"Then why trade him for Hong Chengchou?"

"I think the emperor must have the emperor's thoughts..."

…

Zhu Guoqiang was completely stunned by this operation, and even everyone else who thought they understood the emperor's thoughts was also stunned.

"Sishi, no matter what, we must strengthen the intelligence work on the capital. We, the emperor..."

When he ordered Shi Lei to strengthen his intelligence work, Zhu Guoqiang simply didn't know what words he should use to describe Chongzhen. He even understood a truth.

In the face of such a "wise king", it makes no sense for the Ming Dynasty... not to perish!

It’s unbelievable that this emperor is playing cards!

"Does he really think I can't cross the river?"

Just when Zhu Guoqiang was scratching his head, the newly appointed superintendent Fan Fucui also arrived at Qinghe. Counting him as the middle officer who announced the decree, they were just one behind the other. When he arrived at Qinghe, he saw Qinghe County burned to the ground by the Donglu.

, he summoned his trusted staff and important generals to the hall of the governor's quarters to discuss how to rest the troops until a general asked the governor what his opinion was on the battle.

"Prince De is a member of my Ming Dynasty clan, and he is also a loyal minister. He will definitely not cross the river!"

Fan Fucui stood up from the table, stared at the general soldiers and said:

"I, Fan, am deeply grateful for the country's favor and wish I could die serving my country. Today, our Ming Dynasty is suffering from internal and external troubles. How can we easily talk about fighting? You just ordered the soldiers along the river to return to the camp to rest. Fan crossed the river alone to persuade Prince De to put down his weapons! You!

I will order the generals to return to camp today without any mistakes!"

Faced with the new superintendent's order, all the generals were dumbfounded. They wanted to persuade, but they did not dare to say anything. By the time the generals left, it was already the second watch, and Fan Fucui once again took the seal.

He made an extremely beautifully crafted "Slave Call for Construction", and he couldn't help but admire it as he read the words in it.

"Good writing, good writing, a pure heart leaps between the words and the lines. Such a virtuous and good minister is forced to do this. It is really fate that manipulates people, and fabricates things to manipulate people!"

While sighing, Fan Fucui said.

"Wang Lin, go and tell the outside world that the boat will be ready tomorrow and I will go to Taoyuan on the other side!"

"Sir, why do you need to take such a big risk and go by yourself? You can just have someone send you a letter."

Wang Lin quickly persuaded.

"Wang Lin, you don't understand. Whether Prince De kills officials or honorable ministers, although he has a reputation, in the final analysis it is because he is a member of the Ming Dynasty clan and has always been underestimated by others. There are some dragons and phoenix descendants who are not high-minded.

Are you arrogant? I had a chance encounter with him back then, and I will cross the river in person tomorrow. If nothing happens, I will be able to eliminate the disaster for the Ming Dynasty. This matter must be done by me personally!"

While talking, Fan Fucui remembered that Wang Lin had been with him for almost ten years, and he had served him carefully without making any mistakes. Although he was a purchased domestic slave, he did not give birth to a child at home. In the Ming Dynasty, all the families of scholar-bureaucrats had domestic slaves.

The descendants who were born are still domestic slaves and are called family-born children, which are different from those who come temporarily or are bought. Often family-born children are the most reliable, but although Wang Lin bought him ten years ago, he is loyal to him.

dedicated.

"Wang Lin, are you twenty-three this year?"

"Yes, sir."

Wang Lin replied in a low voice while making the bed for him.

"Twenty-three is not too young. After this matter is completed, I will try to arrange a marriage for you. I guess if your parents are still alive, they will definitely want you to get married and have children."

"Thank you, sir!"

Wang Lin quickly knelt down and kowtowed.

"Okay, you go down first, have a good rest, and cross the river with me tomorrow!"

Fan Fuchui thought to himself, then walked outside the door, stared at the south, and said to himself.
Chapter completed!