At this time, although Haicheng was in the initial stage of construction, to a large extent, it was also the supply system of 'big pot rice', but because of Xu Changqing's favor, the people were not really short of money in their hands, and it could even be said to be rich.

The soldiers have more than two taels of silver per month, and ordinary laborers also have more than one tael, but in fact, they already have a lot of spending power.

In the past, if the people of Haicheng wanted to buy some daily necessities, they had to go to Tiemenguan, Fengguo Town, and even Lijin County, which greatly prospered the economy of these places.

This kind of 'small business' does not seem to be profitable, but Xu Changqing, who understands the profits of supermarkets in later generations, understands very well that this is definitely a super good deal.

Moreover, at this time, Haicheng is almost like a blank sheet of paper, and there are too many aspects that can be used, such as schools, tailors, taverns, inns, transportation, etc., etc., all aspects of clothing, food, housing and transportation, all of which have a huge room for growth.

As the old saying goes, "Fertile water does not flow into the fields of outsiders." ”

Instead of giving these profitable businesses to outsiders, it is better to let girls like Li Youwei and Wu Sanmei do it, which will undoubtedly allow Xu Changqing to increase some income.

These girls are not stupid people, and they soon understood what Xu Changqing meant, and their eyes began to shine.

It was the Yang family who was moved: "Changqing, this matter, we, what should we do?" ”

Xu Changqing smiled: "Simple." You can discuss it yourself, choose the industry you are interested in and can do, identify your own areas, and then write a plan, do it well, and try it. By the way, you'd better show me the plan first, and I can fix it for you. However, at this stage, I don't mind you taking over all the industries, and you have to leave some room for others to see hope. ”

The Yang family and the girls were overjoyed, and soon began to chatter, but Xu Changqing was thrown aside.

Looking at the excited Yang family and a group of girls, Xu Changqing was also relieved, and the back house could be regarded as being able to stop for a while.

However, Xu Changqing was suddenly in a trance, does this count as opening the Pandora's box of capital?

……

The affairs of the back house were quickly left behind by Xu Changqing, and all his energy was focused on the army.

Because of the previous harvest in Songjin, although there are not many iron armor Xu Changqing, there are many kinds of leather armor and cotton armor.

At this time, a team of 5,000 people, it is definitely impossible for everyone to be in iron armor, but one piece of leather armor or cotton armor per person is basically guaranteed.

The Cold Weapon Workshop also changed its thinking at this time, no longer spending a lot of manpower and material resources to build armor, but focusing more on more practical protection such as wrist pads, elbow pads, waist pads, and knee pads.

Especially wrist guards.

Xu Changqing and the Model Army did not start a war immediately even if they arrived on the battlefield, the cold weapon workshop could still maintain its productivity, and Xu Changqing could also guarantee the transportation line.

According to the current production estimates, by the end of July and the beginning of August, when the war really begins, there will still be no big problem with a pair of bracers per team.

Don't underestimate the seemingly simple protection of the wristband.

Cold weapon combat, with a little more protection, may have a completely different outcome.

After Gonggong Li confirmed that Xu Changqing would send troops, the news should have reached the capital at this time, and the holy decree of the Son of Heaven would come down in a few days.

This time, Xu Changqing will go to Laiwu to buy iron materials, there will be no obstacles, and in the next step, the productivity of the cold weapon workshop will be improved.

What makes people embarrassed is the firearms workshop.

Even if Xu Changqing, Qi Dashan and the others worked hard, but after all, this thing requires technology, and it takes more time, and now one hundred and fifty bird guns a month is already the limit, in order to ensure quality, Xu Changqing can't be too anxious even if he is in a hurry.

However, according to the time, by the beginning of August, Xu Changqing will have more than 300 birdshots, which is almost enough.

After all, the degree of armor of the Wandering Army is obviously impossible to compare with the Eight Banners of the Qing Army.

Another thing that needs to be carefully prepared is ordnance and supplies.

Although the imperial court will produce a part, Gonggong Li will definitely do his best, but Xu Changqing understands very well that if you want to train soldiers on the road, what the imperial court gives is definitely not enough, and you must be more prepared.

At this time, the Central Plains has basically been abandoned, and if you don't plan well in advance, it is likely that you won't be able to grab food at that time.

Fortunately, at this time, Xu Changqing still had a million taels of cash in hand, and Shandong was in the heart of Caoyun, so it was not difficult to buy grain.

The rest are firearms such as flowering bombs, 10,000 enemies, fire crows, and explosive packs.

In this regard, Xu Changqing has been deeply rooted, there are enough manpower and materials, the problem is not big, and they are all on track.

In the next few days, Xu Changqing practiced during the day, discussed internal affairs and logistics with Yang Zhongliang, Ma Luan and others at night, and later went over to talk to the girls, especially Gu Hengbo's side, the small days were also comfortable.

However, as various detailed information about the Central Plains Theater continued to come, Xu Changqing's good mood also began to stagnate.

The origin of Huaguo's 'reporting good news but not bad news' has been around for a long time.

It is a national important weapon like Di Bao, and many things cannot be fully trusted, because many unfavorable and panic-causing things have been covered.

In this regard, Emperor Chongzhen is a master.

Because he was preparing to go to the Central Plains to participate in the war, coupled with Xu Changqing's strong attitude, more and more core news was passed on from the front.

Not long ago, around the end of February and the beginning of March, Wang Qiaonian, who succeeded Fu Zonglong as the governor of the three sides of the northwest, was besieged in Xiangcheng, Henan Province by Li Zicheng's confluence 'Cao Cao' Luo Rucai, He Yilong of the Fifth Battalion of Gezuo, and died in battle.

This is already the second trilateral governor to die in battle in less than a year.

And Zuo Liangyu, the general of the Ping Thief, He Renlong, the general soldier of Shaanxi, and others, not only did nothing in the war, but also sold Wang Qiaonian cleanly.

Just a few days ago, although He Renlong was beheaded by Sun Chuanting, the governor of Shaanxi, Zuo Liangyu, the general of the thief, did not have a.

At this time, the imperial court can determine the main force of the official army participating in the battle of Kaifeng, or rely on Zuo Liangyu.

It is reported that at this time, there were nearly 200,000 people in Zuo Liangyu's department.

Then there is Sun Chuanting's Qin military department, including Zheng Jiadong, the chief soldier of the Guyuan Army, Niu Chenghu, the chief soldier of Lintao, and others.

and the Governor of Baoding, Yang Wenyue.

However, although the imperial court had already ordered the military affairs of the seven towns, such as Hubu Shangshu and Governor Baoding, to leave Beijing, the new governor of the three sides, Ding Qirui, was slow and did not really draw many troops.

This also means that the situation is more serious than Xu Changqing imagined, and Xu Changqing and the model army are likely to rush to the battlefield area in advance to stabilize the situation.

Really.

On May 19, Emperor Chongzhen's decree and Kaifeng's letter for help arrived at the same time.

The holy decree is good to say, Xu Changqing is used to Emperor Chongzhen's performance, but Kaifeng's distress letter is a blood letter.

Zhu Gongfang, the king of Zhou, took the lead, Gao Mingheng, Chen Yongfu, Huang Shu and other thousands of officers and soldiers signed together, crying blood and asking Xu Changqing to go to the rescue.

Looking at these dense names written in blood, Xu Changqing was silent.

Even though the cause of the incident cannot be explained, many people are responsible, but the common people are innocent.

Facing Li Zicheng's hundreds of thousands of troops head-on, Xu Changqing will definitely not be able to do it, but as long as he can occupy a favorable geographical advantage to defend, Xu Changqing is still very confident.

People are afraid of being famous, and pigs are afraid of being strong.

Even if this blood letter in Kaifeng City can be punished, but~, Xu Changqing has no way out!

To a large extent, Xu Changqing has become the hope of the entire Ming Dynasty and the entire nation!

There is already no way back, Xu Changqing no longer hesitated, the same day was made to mobilize, and the day after tomorrow, on May 21, after Gonggong Li's vanguard materials were ready, he sent troops to Kaifeng!

……

Although the matter is urgent, Xu Changqing's hard work these days is still very good, many affairs are busy but in good order, and Xu Changqing also happened to take advantage of this reason to recruit labor from the surrounding areas of Lijin.

This will undoubtedly destroy this year's spring ploughing, but Xu Changqing gave silver, and each laborer had a monthly salary of one or two cents, and it was paid a month in advance, which should stimulate the enthusiasm of some ordinary people and make the situation not too bad.

Early in the morning of May 21.

With Xu Changqing's treasure knife unsheathed and the blade in the direction of the blade, a huge team of nearly 5,000 soldiers, nearly 2,000 auxiliaries and more than 5,000 civilians officially set off.

On this side of Zhanhua, Zhang Hu and Gonggong Li have already set off, and the two sides will converge in Jiyang and send troops to Kaifeng!

It's just that even if the soldiers of the Model Army have amazing mobility ability, Xu Changqing can only suppress the speed of the sons and daughters first.

No way.

The heavy baggage can't keep up.

Moreover, Xu Changqing also needs to wait and see the situation first, if the main force of the official army does not move for a long time, Xu Changqing will definitely not rashly enter the war zone.

Otherwise, with a disproportionate ratio of troops, it would be a head-off for Li Zicheng.

……

Thanks to Xu Changqing's world-shattering reputation, as the news of Xu Changqing's dispatch of troops spread, the world shook.

Countless people in the Central Plains cried with joy.

The famous Xu Changqing sent troops, and in their hearts, it almost meant that the rebellion of the exiled army in the Central Plains for a long time could finally be pacified.

Many scholars and doctors are also in good spirits!

If Xu Changqing can successfully quell the rebellion of the exiled army, then there is no doubt that Ming Zhongxing will also have a great hope.

Even if there are many people who eat inside and outside and have collusion with the Qing army, at this time, no one wants the Qing army to enter the customs.

And with the news of Xu Changqing's troops, came.

On 28 May, Ding Qirui, the governor of the three sides, finally made a move, and he successively sent orders to Zuo Liangyu, the general of the Ping Thief, Hu Dawei, the new commander-in-chief of Shaanxi, and Yang Wenyue, the governor of Baoding, and summoned all the troops to rush to the battlefield.

Soon, the main force of Sun Chuanting's Qin army also entered the Central Plains and began to move closer to Kaifeng.

Hou Sui, who had arrived in Baoding, couldn't help but be overjoyed, and even wrote a letter to Xu Changqing to thank him.

The situation seems to be beginning to develop in favor of the Ming army.

……

On the first day of the first month of June, the princess tomb in the southwest direction of Kaifeng City, the flags are lined up, the war horses are like clouds, as far as the eye can see, there are everywhere wearing felt hats, a blue-gray figure, there are tens of thousands of people.

Here, it is the station of Liu Zongmin, the chief general of the Exile Army and the chief sentinel at this time.

Many blue figures are all old battalion soldiers who have been pulled up by the Wandering People's Army in less than two years.

And outside the old battalion, there are more figures, tens of thousands, but these people are a little inadequate, it is not an exaggeration to say that they are called Hanako, many of them are ragged, and they are hungry people from all over the world.

In the middle of the battle array, Liu Zongmin wore a felt hat, a short shirt, and a treasure knife on his waist, although he did not have full body armor, he could have wrist guards, neck guards, elbow pads, waist pads, chest guards and many other protective gear.

He was already in a majestic figure, with broad shoulders and a thick back, and his skin was dark from a blacksmith, he was really full of tendon flesh, and his whole body was full of masculine strength.

However, at this time, Liu Zongmin was not fighting, but welcoming King Chuang's inspection.

In a short time, hundreds of horses galloped in from a distance.

Under the banner of the word "Chuang" fluttering high, he is the first person, wearing a felt hat and a handsome beard, restrained but full of majesty.

The only thing that is not beautiful is that he wears an eyepatch in one eye, and he is a one-eyed.

It is Li Zicheng, the king of Chuang.

Behind him are also the military division of the little man Song Xiance, Niu Jinxing, Cao Cao Luo Rucai, He Yilong of the Fifth Battalion of the Left Battalion, General Liu Fangliang, Gao Yigong, Hao Shaoqi, Li Yan and others.

Seeing Li Zicheng come over to inspect in person, Liu Zongmin laughed, cooperated with the elites around him, and walked quickly towards Li Zicheng, and said with a fist: "King Chuang!" ”

At this time, it was at the peak of the Wandering People's Army, and the momentum and mood were at the peak, and Li Zicheng's mood was also quite good.

smiled and hugged Liu Zongmin and said, "Huang Hu, did you hear the news?" Our loyal uncle has sent troops, and I heard that he has arrived in Dongchang Mansion! ”