855 Li Zicheng's conditions for peace talks

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After Li Zicheng's Dashun army rested at Ningwu Pass for two days, the 50,000 horses led by Liu Zongmin took the lead in setting off as the vanguard army to attack Shuozhou.

Shuozhou did not have many Ming defenders at this time, and as soon as the Dashun army led by Liu Zongmin arrived, the prefect of Shuozhou took the initiative to open the city gate and surrender to the Dashun army.

Not all Ming officials can be as loyal to the Ming Dynasty as Zhou Yuji.

The Ming Dynasty has experienced more than 200 years, and most of the Ming officials at this time are inextricably linked with the Donglin Party.

These moths, one by one, are greedy for life and afraid of death, not to mention, they are fighting for power and profit on weekdays, suppressing the people's fat and people's ointment, filling their own pockets, fattening themselves, and enjoying the treatment that the privileged class of the Ming Dynasty should have.

However, when the Ming Dynasty was facing the crisis of national destruction, these privileged classes, who were usually high-minded, did not fulfill their responsibilities and took the initiative to surrender to the Dashun army.

On weekdays, they enjoyed the rights, but when it was time for them to do their duty for the Ming Dynasty, they all betrayed.

After Liu Zongmin took Shuozhou, he did not stop the attack, but immediately led his army north to attack Datong Town, Shanxi.

At this time, it was Jiang Huang, the general soldier of Datong, who guarded Datong in Shanxi, and Jiang Huang's family was a Ming general for generations, guarding Datong Town.

Facing the menacing Liu Zongmin, Jiang Hao was very entangled.

On the one hand, he was reluctant to give up his existing position of power and fight for the Ming Dynasty.

But on the other hand, in the face of the mighty Dashun soldiers and horses, Jiang Jiu had no choice but to resist with the little soldiers and horses in his hand.

As for asking for support from the imperial court, Jiang Hao had already died of this heart.

If the imperial court could send reinforcements, it would have been sent a long time ago, and it would not have let Zhou Yuji die in Ningwuguan.

At this time, the decline of the Ming Dynasty was already visible to anyone, and there were already many Ming officials in private who contacted Li Zicheng and took refuge in Li Zicheng.

In the end, when Liu Zongmin led 50,000 Dashun troops to the city of Datong, Jiang Hao still gave in.

He chose to surrender to Liu Zongmin, not wanting to follow in the footsteps of Zhou Yuji.

When Li Zicheng learned that Liu Zongmin took Datong Town without blood, he was also surprised, and then ecstatic.

Liu Zongmin's progress in going north so smoothly made most of the worries in Li Zicheng's heart washed away in an instant.

At this time, Li Zicheng even agreed with Liu Zongmin's previous statement, and there were few Zhou Yuji in the Ming Dynasty.

In this way, Li Zicheng was also firm, and continued his determination to go east and lay down the capital of the Ming Dynasty.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have received the news from Ru Hou that Jiang Liang, the chief soldier of Datong, has surrendered to Ru Hou, and Datong Town has fallen into our hands."

Li Zicheng looked at the generals of the Dashun Army under his command with a smile and announced the good news.

"Congratulations to the Emperor." The generals congratulated in unison.

"Liu Zongmin has temporarily taken over Jiang Liang's people, but I can't trust this Jiang Huang, let him continue to stay in Datong, I don't worry.

In order to avoid future troubles, I really want Ru Hou to kill Jiang Xuan, and then leave a group of men and horses in Datong to rectify the Ming army in Datong.

What do you think? ”

"Your Majesty, killing Jiang Jiu is inappropriate."

At this time, Li Guo stood up and said.

"What's wrong, Li Guo, you make it clear."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Li Guo walked out and continued: "Your Majesty, Jiang Hao, as the chief military officer of Datong, since he can take the initiative to surrender to my Dashun, this is a good thing for us.

The emperor should buy horse bones at this time, not only can he not kill Jiang Jiu, but he should also treat him well and set an example for other Ming generals.

Tell those Ming generals that as long as they are willing to take refuge in my Dashun, the emperor will definitely not treat them badly.

In this way, there may be more Ming generals in the future, who will take the initiative to lead the army to surrender to us, which is a plan to attack the heart.

As for His Majesty, if Your Majesty doesn't worry about Jiang Jiu, this is also easy to do.

The emperor can leave a group of men and horses in Datong, and promote some generals from the officers and soldiers of Datong to completely control the soldiers and horses of Datong.

At that time, Jiang Jiu's influence in Datong can be slowly weakened and gradually marginalized.

At that time, even if Jiang Hao had a high-ranking official position on his head, he had been effectively elevated, and the emperor didn't have to worry about him. ”

"Haha, okay, Li Guo, you have a good idea, I'm right, so I'll do it."

After listening to Li Guo's proposal, Li Zicheng also laughed out loud, greatly appreciated Li Guo's idea, and agreed.

"Since this is the case, then pass on my will and appoint Jiang Hao as the chief military officer of Datong.

It's just that from now on, he is no longer the chief soldier of the Ming Dynasty, but the chief military officer of Dashun.

Then, Li Guo, you personally go to Datong to deliver my orders, and then arrange a few generals to take over the military power of Datong and slowly empty Jiang Jiu. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, the last general will obey the order." Li Guo said.

After Liu Zongmin took Datong, Li Zicheng also led the main force of the Dashun army, left Ningwuguan, and did not go to Datong again.

Instead, they passed through Shuozhou, and then marched in a northeast direction, heading straight for the San'in area.

When Li Guo arrived in Datong, after conveying Li Zicheng's order, he arranged the affairs of Datong, and then left Datong with Liu Zongmin's army, went to Yingzhou, and prepared to join Li Zicheng.

Next, the progress of the war was even more unbelievably smooth for Li Zicheng.

The Dashun army passed along the way, encountered little resistance, and a large number of Ming Dynasty officials took the initiative to open the city and surrender.

In this way, Li Zicheng had just over a week to capture Shanyin, Yingzhou, and Ulzhou from Shuozhou, and fought all the way to Juyong Pass.

Along the way, the Dashun army was more like a march than a campaign, and it did not encounter resistance from other Ming troops at all.

On August 15, Li Zicheng, who arrived at Juyong Pass, learned that at this time, tens of thousands of Ming troops from Tang Tong, the commander of Changping, were stationed in Juyong Pass, and the eunuch Du Zhizhi served as the supervisor.

Originally, Li Zicheng thought that there might be a tough battle here in Juyongguan, but the result.

Tang Tong, the chief soldier, and Du Zhizhi, the eunuch of the supervising army, surrendered without a fight and took the initiative to open the Juyong Pass, which made Li Zicheng shocked and was also overjoyed.

Immediately, Li Zicheng led the main force of the Dashun army and immediately stationed in Changping, at this time they were only a few dozen miles away from the capital of Daming.

At the same time, the Southern Route Army led by Liu Fangliang, a general under Li Zicheng, also attacked Zhending Mansion in the south and fought from south to north.

Even, Liu Fangliang was no longer bloody in the Zhending Mansion, and a large number of high-ranking officials of the imperial court took the initiative to surrender to Liu Fangliang.

At this time, these Ming officials who were willing to take the initiative to surrender to the Dashun Army actually felt that the Ming Dynasty was gone at this time, and hugged Li Zicheng's thigh in advance.

By this time, Li Zicheng already felt that the victory was in hand, but the generals under his command, Song Xiance, Li Guo and others were worried.

"Strategist, we are about to enter the capital of Daming, why aren't you all very happy?"

Li Zicheng noticed the abnormality of Song Xiance and asked.

"This ...... will make the last general feel uneasy."

Song Xiance said hesitantly.

It's not that Song Xiance doesn't want to say the worries in his heart, it's that he is worried about angering Li Zicheng.

Since Li Zicheng became emperor, his identity is different from when they rebelled and rebelled as a rogue.

Li Zicheng is also becoming more and more like an emperor, becoming more majestic, and generals such as Song Xiance have to be more and more cautious.

"Advisor, if you have anything to say, you don't have to say anything, even if you say it wrong, I will forgive you."

Fortunately, Li Zicheng is quite kind to these old courtiers under his command, so he said.

"Then the general will be able to speak.

Your Majesty, we are now in Changping, and we are only one step away from the capital of Daming.

However, so far, we have not seen the last two strong teams of the Ming Dynasty, one is the Guanning Iron Cavalry of Wu Sangui in Shanhaiguan,

The other one is the 'White Snake Army' under Li Zixiao.

At this time, the capital of Daming seemed to be close at hand, but in the eyes of the last general, it was more like a huge trap.

If we attack the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Wu Sangui and Li Zixiao lead the army to help, if one of them is not good, it will be easy to lose the whole game!

As the saying goes, you can't eat a fat man in one bite, even if the emperor defeats the Ming capital, it will be difficult for the world to completely fall into the hands of the emperor at that time.

At least, the soldiers, horses and territory in the hands of Wu Sangui and Li Zixiao, they will never hand them over.

At that time, we who killed Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty will become the target of public criticism.

At this point in this battle, we have captured enough territory, but we have basically not digested it.

Look at Li Zixiao's style in the past few years, he has always been steady and steady, with the strength in Li Zixiao's hands at this time, if he wants to capture the capital of Daming, he did it two years earlier.

However, he didn't do it, but took the name of the Marquis of Daming and occupied Henan and Jiangbei.

Even, with Li Zixiao's strength, he was obviously able to capture more plates, but he didn't do it, and he was bent on running Henan well.

That's not that Li Zixiao is stupid, but he understands that no matter how much territory is occupied, if it is not digested, it will be useless to use the population and land on the occupied territory.

Master Hou, our Dashun Army looks glorious at this time, but the foundation is too shallow compared to Li Zixiao.

Therefore, at this time, Weichen dared to make a statement to the emperor, it is better to suspend the army, send people to the capital of the Ming Dynasty, and talk about peace with Chongzhen.

As long as we can coerce Chongzhen and cede the Great Northwest to us, this battle will be worth it.

If the Ming capital can't be defeated, it won't actually do us much good, can the emperor forget the prime minister's explanation before leaving? ”

After Song Xiance's words were finished, Li Zicheng fell into deep thought, and the generals of the Shun army below also began to discuss.

"No, I'm against it.

We've all called here, and we're still worried about this, why are we worried about that?

directly entered the capital of Daming, slaughtered Chongzhen's old man, and let the emperor also sit on the dragon chair and live in the Daming Palace.

When the time comes, whoever in the world dares to disobey, we will destroy whom. ”

Regarding Song Xiance's words about peace talks with Chongzhen at this time, the first person to stand up against it was Liu Zongmin.

For Li Zicheng, at this time, they had already reached Changping, and if he gave up attacking the capital of Daming, he was indeed a little unwilling in his heart.

But after Li Zicheng carefully considered Song Xiance's words, he also felt that it was very reasonable, and Li Zixiao did not forget Niu Jinxing's advice to him before leaving.

After thinking about it for a long time, Li Zicheng finally spoke: "Okay, I agree with the military advisor's opinion, and I can consider making peace with Chongzhen."

However, I don't want to be the king of the northwest, since I am the emperor, I am the Emperor of Dashun, and I am on an equal footing with him Emperor Chongzhen.

If you want me not to attack the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Chongzhen needs to cede this northwest, that is, Shaanxi and Shanxi, to me, and reward my army with three million taels of silver.

If Chongzhen agrees to these two demands, I will withdraw my troops and conclude an armistice with them. ”

At this time, Li Zicheng put forward his own requirements.

Here is a special note, at this time in the northwest of the Ming Dynasty, there is only one Shaanxi, there is no Gansu, Shaanxi at this time, basically Shaanxi and Gansu provinces in the later generations.

As for why Li Zicheng did not want to be the Duogansi Xuanwei Division in the west, that is, the Qinghai area in later generations.

Because, in Li Zicheng's opinion, it is completely a barren land, and it can't even raise a few people, so it's useless to ask for it.

I have to say that the climate in the Xiaoice era at the end of the Ming Dynasty was originally cold, and the environment in Qinghai was worse than that of later generations, and it is no wonder that Li Zicheng is not eye-catching.

Over there, the only valuable place is enough for the Hexi Corridor, but at this time, the Hexi Corridor belongs to Shaanxi.

If it weren't for the fact that Henan had been occupied by Li Zixiao at this time, Li Zicheng would even want to bring Henan over.

Hearing that Li Zicheng was willing to negotiate peace, Song Xiance was also overjoyed, and felt that Li Zicheng's request was not too excessive.

After all, at this time, Shaanxi and Shanxi had actually been completely defeated by their Dashun army.

Even if Chongzhen doesn't give it, Shanxi and Shaanxi are also theirs, at this time, if Chongzhen knew it, most of them would agree to this request.

However, the only thing that made Song Xiance feel uneasy was that Li Zixiao wanted to conclude an alliance with Chongzhen as Emperor Dashun.

It is equivalent to letting Chongzhen admit the fact that Li Zicheng was the emperor and established the Great Shun State, and officially let Shanxi and Shaanxi break away from the rule of the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, then send someone to tell Emperor Chongzhen what you requested.

I don't know if the emperor has a suitable candidate? ”

Song Xiance asked Li Zicheng.

"Well, let's let the eunuch Du Zhizhi who surrendered to us before.

He is a person from Chongzhen, and he is also the most familiar with the situation in the capital of Daming, so it is most suitable for him to go. ”

Li Zicheng said with a smile.

In fact, Li Zicheng sent Du Zhizhi, an old eunuch, to act as Li Zicheng's envoy to the capital and Chongzhen for peace talks this time, which has a deeper meaning.

Du Zhizhi was one of the chief eunuchs in Chongzhen's palace before, and he was deeply trusted by Chongzhen, but now he took the initiative to surrender to Li Zicheng.

Li Zicheng is just going to tell Chongzhen, look at the people around you who have taken the initiative to surrender to me, how many people on your side are willing to die for you.

The hearts of the people around you are scattered, and what are you going to do to fight with me?

If you're interested, you'd better accede to my request, or no one will be willing to defend you if I send an army to attack the city.

Li Zicheng has the meaning of indirectly humiliating Chongzhen and warning Chongzhen.

(End of chapter)