In the night, a luxury painting boat belonging to Zheng Sen was slowly passing on the Qinhuai River.

Zhu Cihong was on his way back to Dagongfang from Yumen Pavilion. Dagongfang is next to the Qinhuai River, and an artificially dug waterway connects the Qinhuai River and the back lake of Dagongfang, so that the owners of the Dagongfang can quietly sneak out of the mansion of the Guogong, which is deeper than the East China Sea, and incarnate Jinling talents to swim on the Qinhuai River.

However, Zhu Cihong had no intention of admiring the night view of Qinhuai at this time, but just smiled and looked at Hou Fangyu, who was sitting opposite him and tasting wine.

Hou Fangyu didn't make any lofty comments at tonight's Baimen Pavilion gathering, but when Zhu Cihong left, he quietly followed up to pay a visit.

"Chitose Lord, the student also has a plan to offer."

Zhu Cihong smiled: "What is the good plan of the Chaozong?" ”

"The student knows that the Marquis of Wuchang has an adopted daughter, named Mengmei, seventeen years old, with the appearance of a sinking fish and a wild goose, His Royal Highness may wish to issue an order to Wuchang and choose Mengmei to serve in the palace."

The Marquis of Wuchang mentioned by Hou Fangyu is Zuo Liangyu, Zhu Cihong made him the vassal of Wuchang before the "Nanjing Eunuch Rebellion", and also divided Huguang into two, and let Zuo Liangyu be in charge of the military and political affairs of Wuchang, Huangzhou, Chengtian, Yuezhou, De'an, Jingzhou and other six prefectures in Hubei.

However, at the same time that Zhu Cihong sealed Zuo Liangyu, he also ordered He Tengjiao and Chang Yanling to serve as the governor of Hunan and the general army of Hunan town guard, and ordered Li Yan, Feng San, and Chen Yingyuan to preside over the important military and political affairs of Runing Mansion in Henan, and also let Liu Kongzhao serve as the garrison of Jiujiang to contain the left from the east, south, and north.

Therefore, Zuo Liangyu will not be satisfied with Zhu Cihong, the prince of Fujun. Therefore, he ignored Zhu Cihong's order to arrest Huang Shu, the leader of the eunuch party, and protected Huang Shu as his dog-headed military advisor.

Zhu Cihong smiled and said, "If the Marquis of Wuchang really wants to make a move, how can he care about an adopted daughter?" ”

Hou Fangyu shook his head and said, "Master Qiantose, the Marquis of Wuchang is old and sick, and it is really difficult to make a difference." As far as the students know, now the Wuchang Hou Department is planning for the future.

Most of the sons of the Marquis of Wuchang were killed in the Xuzhou Mutiny, and now there is only one son, Menggeng, and the adopted daughter Mengmei is on the side. If the Marquis of Wuchang dies, those who are eligible to inherit him, except for Zuo Mengeng, will be Zuo Mengmei's husband. ”

Zhu Cihong smiled and said, "Mengmei is not from Liangyu, and her husband and Liangyu are even more estranged, how can she lead the public?" ”

Hou Fangyu said: "It's man-made!" If the Chitose Lord accepts Mengmei as a concubine, the students and the father can go to the army of the Marquis of Wuchang for the Chitose Lord, win over the generals, and persuade the Marquis of Wuchang to send Zuo Mengeng into the court. As long as Meng Geng enters the court, the people of Wuchang will be leaderless, and they can only be used by Chitose. ”

Is it that easy?

Although Zhu Cihong knew that Hou Sui and Zuo Liangyu had a close relationship, he was still suspicious.

"Give it a try."

After thinking for a while, Zhu Cihong still nodded, Zuo Liangyu's department is known as one million, and the water is very large, but there should always be tens of thousands of people who can fight, right? This army lives between Jiang and Han, and it is always a great hidden danger. However, if you want to contact the threat of the left, you can't use Hou Fangyu's method entirely, this kid's method will only disintegrate the left army and turn the left army from a big trouble to a bunch of small troubles.

He thought for a while, and then asked, "Who went to Wuchang to proclaim the decree?" ”

Hou Fangyu shook his head and said, "Don't announce the decree first, the student will take a trip to Wuchang on the grounds of visiting the sick and go to discuss with the Hou of Wuchang." If the Marquis of Wuchang is interested, it is not too late to give another order. ”

Zhu Cihong said: "This is very good, but Chaozong, don't mention Zuo Menggeng's entry into the court, and you have to contact Zuo Mengeng, and tell him that the palace knows that the Marquis of Wuchang is old and faint, and he will rely on Menggeng more in the future for military and government affairs in the west."

In addition, do you ask Zuo Mengeng if he intends to be the Duke of Shu? ”

"Duke of Shu?"

Zhu Cihong nodded and said with a smile, "The prince of the Shu domain!" There are tens of thousands of people who dare to fight on the left, and they have been defeated before, forcing the thieves to flee west into Shu. If Zuo Mengeng can enter Shu after Liangyu's death and pacify the thieves, the palace will crown him as the Duke of Shu and Yongzhen Situ! ”

Hou Fangyu thought for a while, then arched his hand and said, "It's still a thousand years old, and the students admire it!" ”

Zhu Cihong said with a smile, "This palace just treats it sincerely, as for whether Zuo Mengeng accepts this feeling, it's hard to say."

By the way, Chaozong, don't stay in Wuchang for too long, it's not good to miss Enke in Mingchun. Although the palace can directly give you an official, the Wenchen of this dynasty is still valued by the Jinshi background. By next year, you will be twenty-seven years old, and you should have a Jinshi fame! ”

Hou Fangyu was moved in his heart, and hurriedly got up to bow down.

Zhu Cihong waved his hand and said, "No need to thank you, your knowledge is known in this palace, how can you not get a jinshi?" It was delayed because Mr. Hou was unjustly imprisoned before, but this time he will definitely be able to win. ”

Just as Zhu Cihong and Hou Fangyu were talking, the painting boat had slowly sailed into the back lake of Dagongfang and stopped steadily beside a stone-built wharf.

Zhu Cihong and Hou Fangyu walked out of the cabin together, and suddenly saw Zhu Chunjie, the commander of the Jinyi Guard, standing on the dock waiting, and he was stunned.

It's the middle of the night now, this Zhu Chunjie can't sleep well, what is he doing when he comes to Dagongfang? Is there some kind of rebel thief?

Zhu Cihong turned his head to Hou Fangyu and Zheng Sen and said, "Chaozong, senior brother, don't say goodbye today, please go back." ”

The shore of the back lake of Dagongfang belongs to the "inner house", that is, Zhu Cihong's harem. Hou Fangyu and Zheng Sen were inconvenient to enter, so they could only stop at the painting boat.

And Zhu Chunjie, the commander of the Jinyi Guard, has a special nature of work, so he can naturally enter the interior at any time to report important matters.

After Zhu Cihong went ashore, he waved at Zhu Chunjie, and then walked quickly towards a courtyard by the lake. There are Jingjun and guards standing guard at the moon gate of the small courtyard, and inside is the bedroom of Zhu Cihong and Wu Sanmei.

Wu Sanmei, who was pregnant with Liujia, had already fallen asleep, and Zhu Cihong took Zhu Chunjie into his study.

"Chitose Lord, Commander Luo has a secret report!" Zhu Chunjie's expression was extremely solemn, he took out an envelope and handed it to Zhu Cihong with both hands.

Zhu Cihong took the envelope, took out a crumpled piece of stationery inside, and looked at it by the dim candlelight.

At first glance, his face has changed greatly!

"What? They are going to sell Li Zicheng, how can they be so stupid! ”

It turned out that this was a wax pill letter sent by Luo Xiushen from Datong! The letter said about Wang Yongji and Jiang Liang Lianqing Tushun.

This is really beyond Zhu Cihong's expectations! He originally thought that a few people in Datong Mansion still knew what "cold lips and teeth" were.

Once Li Zicheng withdraws from Shanxi, can Datong still exist alone?

"Chitose Lord, why don't you take a trip to Datong!" Zhu Chunjie pleaded.

"Not necessarily." Zhu Cihong waved his hand, "It's too late, now let's see if Luo Xiushen is clever enough, and tell Li Zicheng about Dongyu's borrowing." ”

Zhu Chunjie shook his head and said: "It's not good to tell Li Zicheng, if he knew that Datong would attack him with Dongyu, maybe he would abandon Taiyuan and leave!" ”

Zhu Cihong's brows tightened, that's a good thing! Once Li Zicheng escapes, the situation in the north will become even more difficult.

Thinking of this, Zhu Cihong sighed, was silent and didn't say a word.

The first year of Yongchang, the tenth day of October, Shanxi, Taihang Mountain.

In the distance, near the old Guanguan City, the smoke was filled, the fire was soaring into the sky, and the military flag could be faintly seen in the wind. Wu Sangui's Guanning artillery team was bombarding Chengguan with four Hongyi cannons brought from Ningyuan. There are also firecrackers and archers who fire projectiles and rockets in advance. Trying to suppress the children's battalion of the Dashun Army guarding the old Guanguan City.

Li Zicheng looked out from the top of a hill, and from time to time under the hillside, horses flew by, loudly reporting the battle situation ahead. Li Zicheng looked around with a clairvoyant mirror and found that there were a large number of Qing troops east of Jiuguan, but looking at the color of the clothes and banners, those Qing troops were not real captives, but Wu Sangui's Guanning army.

Since the Battle of One Stone in April, the Dashun Army has been a series of defeats against the Shangguanning Army!

Now that he was facing Wu Sangui again, Li Zicheng also had to be cautious, he did not dare to choose a field battle, but relied on the Guguan Great Wall and the old pass (old Guguan) ten miles east of Guguan to arrange defense, preparing to use defensive battles to consume the enemy first, and then turn to a counteroffensive. Attract more Qing troops to the Guguan Jingcheng area.

In this way, his amazing soldiers in Zezhou can show their skills!