On February 7, 276 of the Ming Dynasty, in the Forbidden City, Zhu Cihong sat in the Palace of Nourishing the Heart and thought. It is located on the west side of the Qianqing Palace, and recently Zhu Cihong has rested here and doubled as an office.

Today he went back to the harem to visit the Emperor Zhu Youzhen and the Empress Dowager Zhou, and he didn't deal with official business for a long time, and he was comfortable.

This is due to a good news that has not appeared for a long time - the officials of the various government offices during the Nanjing prison period have rushed to Beijing in batches.

Yang Wenyue, who used to be known as the chief military aircraft minister of the Military Aircraft Department, and Ni Yuanlu, the executive minister of military aircraft, are about to take office as Zhu Cihong's envisioned privy council, which is a restoration of the old system of the Southern Song Dynasty, and it is also a move to re-elevate the status of military officials.

At the same time, the ministers of the State Cabinet established in Nanjing during the period of the Jianguo also rushed to Beijing.

Minister of Finance and Economy Fu Shuxun, Minister of National Defense Gao Mingheng, Minister of Education Huang Daozhou, and Minister of Integrity Shi Kefa. The Minister of Economy and Finance is in charge of the Household Department. The Minister of Education and Culture is in charge of the Ministry of Rites and the General Administration of Education: Huang Daozhou. The Minister of National Defense is in charge of the Ministry of War, Taifu Temple, etc. The Minister of Integrity is in charge of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. In charge of the overall situation is Li Banghua, whose position is the chief minister.

These new systems created during the period of the Jianguo period were originally only in Yingtianfu, and later with Zhu Cihong's authority in Nanjing gradually consolidated, it spread to Yingtianfu, and after the great victory in Korea, Nanjing gradually spread to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Huguang, Fujian, Jiangxi and other southern regions.

Now, this rudimentary set of cultural relics finally has the power to control the entire empire.

Of course, in the final analysis, these permissions are still granted by Zhu Cihong.

It is the new emperor's magnanimity that can restore the balance of civil and military affairs in the early Ming Dynasty, and he still has the status of prime minister. Otherwise, after the two sets of civil and military teams in Nanjing had not yet arrived in Beijing, and Zhu Cihong sent four cabinet scholars to Beijing, all the functions of the six departments, the five temples, the second prison, the second court, and the first government would have to be reported to Zhu Cihong for handling. Unless Zhu Cihong has the same abundant energy and infinite enthusiasm as Zhu Yuanzhang, otherwise, it is not a human job at all.

Fortunately, this set of civil and military teams is in charge, and Zhu Cihong can finally relax. Walking in the yard. The Yangxin Hall is an independent courtyard, about 63 meters long from north to south and about 80 meters wide from east to west. The whole is I-shaped, the front hall is three rooms wide, and three rooms are deep. The yellow glazed tile rests on the top of the mountain, and the bright room and the west are indirectly rolled up to hug the building.

Zhu Cihong watched it very interestingly, making the little eunuchs who were waiting on the side tremble, not knowing what to do. He looked at the expressions of the little eunuchs, smiled slightly, waved his hand, let them leave, and walked around by himself.

It's just that he walked out not far away, Zhu Cihong saw the figure walking around in the dark, Zhu Cihong recognized Ning Wei who was leading the team, and his heart was slightly less interesting, and he didn't want to trouble these guards and returned to the Heart Cultivation Palace.

The brazier in the hall burned red, making the room hot, Zhu Cihong sweated a little on his forehead, wiped it himself, sat down, and his eyes fell on the pile of books on the desk.

At the top is a one-finger-thick booklet with four large characters of State Briefing. Zhu Cihong picked up the state briefing and looked at it casually, and understood that this was a recently approved briefing compiled by the people of the Zhongshu Academy. Although it is a briefing, it is also burdensome to summarize.

Zhu Cihong read it hastily and picked up another fist-thick booklet under the State Affairs Briefing.

"Bill to Stay in the Capital"

Zhu Cihong shook his head slightly and smiled: "I don't know which person who dragged the text did it." ”

Under the title of the cover is a note, which is a briefing on all government and military affairs handled by the State Cabinet and the Military Aircraft Department in Nanjing. Obviously, this is only a brief letter, like a table of contents, indicating all the detailed files on the other side, which are a full man's height.

Of course, Zhu Cihong didn't want to look at it, so he read it hastily, and gradually had some bottom in his heart.

"In the first month of the spring of 276 years after the reform of our emperor, Gengyin, Shuo gale, haze, Fengyang earthquake."

"Zhang Xianzhong and Ma Shou should be in trouble, Li Zicheng has entered Qin, and he is loyal to him, and he is loyal to the words of the rich coin and the word ......"

"Gao Jie broke the Qinghua town and crossed the river to Qin Huai. Minister Ni of the Military Aircraft Department has ordered Fu Rugui to send troops to arrest ......"

"Ding Mao, the wind and haze, the five colors are changing, and the room is as red as blood."

……

Obviously, this is not a good foundation.

Zhu Cihong smiled bitterly and put these away. At this time, the eldest companion Sien strolled over and said softly, "Holy ...... The Cabinet of State submitted a new ...... Urgent. ”

"Show me." Zhu Cihong looked at the red cover, and his heart sank slightly: "If you should come, you will still come." ”

Flipping open the cover, when Zhu Cihong saw the words Cai Maode on it, he sighed lightly. The report was very careful, because Jinyiwei had been urgently dispatched to Taiyuan by Zhu Cihong to strengthen the force and transfer the materials and personnel of Jindi. After these things are done, of course, the spare energy cannot be wasted. At this point, the tentacles of probing also become careful. Therefore, Zhu Cihong read the words on it as if he was seeing it with his own eyes.

Three days ago, Taiyuan.

The city was empty, and not a single defender was there. Cai Maode, Zhao Jianji, the political envoy, and Sun Kangzhou, the prefect of Taiyuan, glanced at each other, and their hearts sank: "The army's heart is lost...... Is that so? ”

Behind them, the prince Shi strode after them, and kept saying, "Don't go, three adults!" His Royal Highness the King of Jin is bent on keeping this city! Governor Cai, Governor Cai......"

Finally, the palace chief Shi no longer opened his mouth, he looked at the empty city wall, and no matter how stupid he was, he understood what the situation was: "What about my Ming soldiers?" ”

Master Fu Qing walked down the city wall, and he saw soldiers with yellow and thin faces and vegetables in the hidden soldier cave, but their fierce spirits were revealed.

These people's clothes were scattered, their red coats were tattered, and the black stains on the east and west looked very dirty. Fu Qing glanced at the audience and said in a deep voice, "Where are your officers?" ”

A veteran soldier with a little less food stood up, sneered, walked over, dragged the rusty long knife in his hand on the ground, shook it step by step, and said, "Who are you?" When you arrive at my barracks, you don't report your name, you don't offer your way, and you dare to interrogate our commander? ”

"I only ask you, where is Zhang Ye?" Lord Fu Qing suppressed his anger, and his old servant strode over, holding a long sword.

Master Fu Qing took the long sword, drew the sword out of its sheath, and pointed at the audience: "As an official of the Ming Dynasty, the enemy army is here, is it here to survive?" ”

Zhang Ye finally ran over from the city sweating profusely, and the general of the Cheng'en Gate Defense said impatiently: "Lord Fu Qing! We will naturally take care of the defense, you reading seeds, don't come here to participate. ”

Outside the city, drums beat quietly.

Cai Maode's servants and governors who followed him quietly dispersed a lot. The figures on the head of the city were ridiculed, and even the few hundred remaining governors and pacesetters were shocked, and they shrank behind the walls.

Cai Maode turned around and looked at the city gate, and suddenly a roar sounded. Finally, Zhang Ye walked to the city with more than 2,000 people.

Defense is finally maintained.

Zhao Jianji said loudly: "I have this celebrity in Taiyuan, and I can wait for it!" ”

Sun Kangzhou looked at these soldiers who looked like beggars, and then looked at the city, and after thinking for a long time, he came up with a sentence: "The thief army has a cannon ......."

Li Yan, who led the team, of course, understood the sharpness of the artillery fire.

After conquering Xi'an and getting more than a dozen cannons, Li Yan snatched them several times, and finally allocated four artillery pieces from the rest. At this moment, all of them are firing outside the Chengen Gate in Nancheng.

Rumble......

After a parabola was raised, some of them crossed the city wall and smashed into the city, while another hit the city wall, causing countless rubbles and screams of panic.

What frightened Sun Kangzhou even more than the artillery fire was the array of the Shun army under the city.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the military system of the Shun army in Xi'an was Zhongji, left spoke (auxiliary), right wing, forward, and stamina. The front camp is black, the rear camp is yellow, the left camp is white, the right camp is red, and the middle camp is blue.

Among them, Li Yan served as a general here, and the forward battalion under his command was a black banner.

The banner was black, and Li Yan also made a lot of ink-colored armor for the soldiers in the vanguard ranks. With such a whitewash, the soldiers of the Shun army in front are all dressed in black, and the visual effect is extremely amazing.

In particular, Li Zicheng attached great importance to drills after becoming the capital of Xi'an, and Li Yan, as a forward general, would not be ambiguous in the training of soldiers, so the array was like, the army lined up in front of the city, the soldiers stood still, the whole army was silent, and the atmosphere of slaughter suddenly appeared.

Sun Kangzhou, as a prefect, of course has some knowledge, and when he saw this battle, his heart suddenly cooled.

Cai Maode stood at the head of the city and kept cheering: "This battle is to protect my battle in Taiyuan Township." Thieves have always done a lot of evil, and the slaughter and looting of cities have occurred from time to time. To kill the enemy is to defend the township! Killing the enemy is the capital for promotion! Today, Cai Maode, the governor of Shanxi, stands here in person, cheering for you and witnessing your meritorious deeds! ”

"I am the political envoy of Shanxi, and I swear here that you will kill the enemy, no matter how many military merits, there will be no less reward!" Zhao Jian said in a loud voice.

Sun Kangzhou followed: "The Taiyuan Treasury has taken out 10,000 taels of silver, and in this battle, if you kill one enemy, you will be rewarded with five taels of silver!" ”

"Promoted one level!" Cai Maode said again.

At the head of the city, three thousand soldiers heard this, and suddenly there was a burst of encouragement: "Kill, kill, kill!" ”

The momentum of the defenders finally condensed slightly, and Cai Maode and the three of them smiled for a while.

Lord Fu Qing in the corner quietly felt that the atmosphere was not right.

Zhang Ye, the general stationed in Nancheng, walked over slowly, smiling widely, and behind him, more than 30 families followed. He strode over and said to Cai Maode: "Lord Governor! If I have a good strategy to defend the city, and I can defend this Taiyuan as impregnable, wouldn't I be able to give me a general soldier? ”

Cai Maode complained in his heart, the chief soldier is a first-class officer, and he will give it wherever he says. What's more, the new emperor has just ascended the throne, even if he is willing to give it to you, it is not so rash. But now that the martial arts are in charge, Cai Maode must be coaxed, squeezed out a smile and said: "With this great achievement, this position of general soldier, of course I have to win it for General Zhang!" ”

"Oh...... Then I will tell the governor in person! It's just that there are a lot of people at the moment...... Please allow me to talk about it in detail! With that, Zhang Ye strode over and approached Cai Maode.

Cai Maode was pleasantly surprised and expectant in his heart, and tolerated Zhang Ye's closeness. Just as Cai Maode was waiting for Zhang Ye to say the best way to defend the city, suddenly, an angry voice sounded in his ears.

"Governor, be careful! Something is wrong with the chapter industry! Lord Fu Qing roared angrily.

Cai Maode turned his head, and Zhang Ye's face was full of hideousness: "That is, you are going to die!" This Taiyuan is in the hands of the Shun army, so it is naturally impregnable! ”

A cold light flickered, Zhang Ye drew his sword and stabbed directly, piercing Cai Maode's abdomen, and blood spurted.

Cai Maode's face was full of unenforceability, and he tried his best to turn his head, looked at Fu Qingzhu, and spit out a word with great difficulty: "Go ......"

Zhao Jianji and Sun Kang and Zhou Qi retreated: "You ......"

Behind Zhang Ye, all the family members drew their knives together, and they surrounded and killed the governor's guards in three strokes and five divisions.

Sun Kangzhou looked at Fu Qingzhu in the distance: "Qingzhu, let's go!" Tell our emperor that we will kill the enemy and die! ”

"Kill!" Zhao Jianji picked up a brick, rushed over, was slashed by a rebel, lay on the head of the city, looked at Fu Qing and said, "If you don't leave, who will tell the world...... We are traitors...... ...... killed"

……

"It's the day...... The student broke through with seventeen thieves in his hand, only to learn that half of Taiyuan had been trapped by the rebels. Taiyuan did not have a battle of swords and guns, and was limited by the enemy. The blades of the swords, all of which are the former comrades. Taiyuan has fallen to the enemy......" Zhu Cihong quietly watched this battle report fall, and sighed lightly: "Taiyuan, ...... fell"

Zhu Cihong walked to the front hall, where several privy councillors were updating the sand table according to the updated military newspapers. Above, on the vermilion territory, Taiyuan's eyes were quietly painted yellow.

Yellow, which is the color that represents the Shun army's sphere of influence.

On the official road from Taiyuan to Xinzhou, a huge yellow arrow is placed. At the same time, countless tiny red arrows were placed in Shanxi Town in the north of Taiyuan and Pingding Prefecture in the west of Taiyuan. Zhu Cihong understood that this was the retreat route of Jinyiwei and the yamen of Shanxi and Taiyuan.

After thinking about it, Zhu Cihong picked up a yellow arrow next to the sand table and put it in the direction of Taiyuan towards Pingdingzhou.

Pingding Prefecture is located in the east of Taiyuan, through Pingding Prefecture to the east, is the famous Jingcheng. Out of the well...... It's really decided. The real determination of Gyeonggi.

"They're coming......" Zhu Cihong muttered softly, not frustrated at all.

The loss of Taiyuan can be said to be planned.

But when Zhu Cihong stared at the sand table, he suddenly frowned, called Si En, and said, "Go and bring the letter numbered Jiazi in the first red box on the left of the third column on the cabinet!" ”

Si En found the chapter according to his words, Zhu Cihong glanced at it, and his eyes fell on Mizhi County. This is Li Zicheng's birthplace, but the key is not here. His gaze went north from Mizhi to Yulin Town.

There, it is the place where Li Guo, a general under Li Zicheng, is stationed.

The news of Jiazi Song is very simple: "Li Guo went north into the town of Qiang, and it is suspected that he crossed the river into Fugu and entered the river meander......"

"That's not right...... Those who cross the river will not be Li Guobu, and they will not be the main force. Li Guo's goal...... It's the way to the loop! Zhu Cihong muttered.

To the north of Zhenqiang is the eastern set of the Hetao Plain, and the area covered by the Turbidity River and the Quye River was not only Mongol...... And full of people.

On the map, the sphere of influence of the white-faced Qing Kingdom in the north has already come into contact with the yellow Shun army: "You are converging!" (To be continued.) )