(0652) [Today's first update is delivered! ] 】

The summer of the forty-sixth year of Wanli was definitely chaotic, hectic, and tense. [Full text reading]

In order to consolidate his power, Beiming took many measures. The most important thing is the military adjustment. This includes adjusting the troops in each military town to distribute the long-overdue food and salary as much as possible. The number of troops was reduced, only the soldiers were retained, and all the guards were abandoned. The three battalions of the Beijing Division were also reorganized, and only about 50,000 people were retained, and the rest were all reorganized. The Northern Ming also sent troops south along the Yellow River to block the white-clothed army from moving north.

It turned out that the Ming Dynasty, which had been grinding and not moving, had not completed the army rectification action for decades, but in the hands of the Fuwang Party, it only took a few months to complete it. After the reorganization of the army, under the command of the Northern Ming, there were only about 100,000 troops. As the number of troops decreased, the expenses naturally decreased. At the same time, after the rectification, the combat effectiveness of the troops has been improved. It can be seen that people are forced out, and the political axe is also forced out. As long as there is enough pressure, the operation efficiency of the political axe can also go to a very high level.

In order to win the support of the people, the Northern Ming political axe also announced that the ownerless land would be allocated to the common people for cultivation. In the area of Beizhili, all the land is occupied by magnates at all levels, and ordinary people do not have any land at all. As a result of this coup d'état, a large number of powerful people fled to Nanjing, and the fields they abandoned became ownerless. The Fuwang Party took it out as a bait to lure the people, and whether it was actually implemented in the end or not, it had a considerable effect.

Similarly, in order to consolidate his power, Nanming also actively expanded his armaments. For their own safety, the wealthy merchants in the southeast half of the city voluntarily or involuntarily donated money as special military expenses to recruit more soldiers. In order to save money, all the guards in the Jiangnan area were banned without question. At this point, the military household system, which the founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang regretted, was officially announced.

The Nanjing court sent special officials to Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Huguang, Guangxi, Guangdong, and other places to strengthen local control. In general, these places still recognize the orthodox Nanjing court. However, it is certain that the ruling order in these places has been somewhat loosened. It seems that in remote areas such as Sichuan and Yunnan, it is still unknown whether the laws and regulations of the Nanjing Imperial Court are really implemented to the end.

King Fu's sudden outburst made the royal branches such as the King of Shu, the King of Xiang, the King of Chu, and the King of Dian all have some unhealthy thoughts. In particular, the two branches of King Shu and King Xiang have been quite active in the past month. In the past two months, it was the most chaotic and dazed period, and many officials stationed in Shu were also at a loss, just giving the king of Shu the opportunity to make a move. Many of the Shu King's henchmen have been promoted to key positions.

For a long time, the Shu King family has not been particularly peaceful, and often makes some small moves. It's just that the imperial court took into account the remoteness of Shuzhong and had almost no threat to the Jingshi, so it didn't bother to seriously investigate. As the saying goes, family ugliness should not be publicized. As a result, the ambitions of the Shu King system inevitably exceeded the boundary. This time, the King of Shu probably wanted to emulate King Fu and had the addiction of the emperor. He had forgotten that in the nearby Hanzhong Mansion, there were more than 8,000 white-clothed troops gathering.

If the Qin cavalry was not a cavalry, it is estimated that they would have entered Shuzhong a long time ago. With the current military strength of Shuzhong, it is not the opponent of the white-clothed army at all. However, the road to Shuzhong was too difficult and dangerous, which seriously limited the strategy of the white-clothed army. As the saying goes, the difficulty of Shu Road is difficult to go to the blue sky, which is definitely not a joke. The winding, steep and rugged mountain roads were indeed an impossible task for the cavalry troops.

Therefore, Xu Xingxia asked the Qin cavalry to gradually learn how to fight on foot, and when necessary, the Qin cavalry could be used as mountain infantry. If it weren't for the fact that this transformation process would take a certain amount of time, the military flags of the white-clothed army might have been planted in the city towers of Chengdu. The king of Shu is still dreaming of his own emperor, which is really sad, lamentable, and ridiculous.

As for the Xiangwang family, they are purely-stirring sticks and speculators. If the world is calm, King Xiang will definitely not have the courage to cross the line. However, the world was in turmoil, and Xiangyang Mansion was the most important strategic place in the Central Plains, and King Xiang felt that he should have the opportunity to display his talents.

From a military strategy point of view, Xiangyang Province is indeed very important. Advance can be attacked, retreat can be defended, whether it is for the Northern Ming, Southern Ming, or the white-clothed army, it is very important. King Xiang's dream is estimated to be sitting in Xiangyang Mansion and stepping on three boats.

If you want to say that the movement is the least, it is the white-clothed army led by Xu Xingxia. The white-clothed army has always been buried in things and has not said a word. No matter how the outside world changes, the mission goal will not change easily. The same is true of this big march. According to the latest information, the Leopard Cavalry has taken control of Taiyuan Province, expelled the Jin Dynasty, and is currently marching towards Zhending Mansion and other places in the north of Zhili. If the white-clothed army takes control of Zhending Mansion, the capital will be locked up.

For the safety of the capital, the three battalions of the Beijing Division had to go south and deploy defenses in the area of Baoding Prefecture, hoping to prevent the white-clothed army from moving north. Once the White Army and the three battalions of the Beijing Division come into contact, fierce fighting will definitely break out between the two sides. The outcome of the battle is almost no suspense. If the three major battalions of the Beijing Division, which were in a hurry, could defeat the Leopard Cavalry, it would really be the sun coming out of the west.

On the southern front, the dragoons also controlled Luoyangfu, Kaifengfu, Nanyangfu and other places, and were marching to various parts of Shandong. The vanguard had entered Jinan Mansion and expelled King Lu. Part of the dragoon army troops also approached the vicinity of Xiangyang Mansion, threatening the safety of King Xiang. With the gradual arrival of the follow-up troops of the White Army, there is no suspense about controlling the Central Plains.

On the northern front, the Shooting Army had already conquered the town of Datong and was marching towards the town of Xuanfu. Before them, the Leopard Cavalry had already tackled the town of Shanxi. In other words, at present, there are actually only two military towns that the Northern Ming Dynasty can control, that is, Jizhen and Xuanfu Town. Liaodong Town is too far away to save the fire from far water. The defeat of Beiming is almost no suspense. The only thing worth guessing is when the white-clothed army will officially enter Yanjing City.

In the face of such a good situation, Xu Xingxia cultivated his heart and surname. These days, he has been staying in the various laboratories of the Science and Technology Division, as if he is a diligent helper, helping Xu Guangqi and Wang Zheng. On the one hand, it is to guide their research direction. On the other hand, it is to solve problems for them anytime and anywhere.

"My lord, the envoy from the capital has arrived." Suddenly, Zhang Tianhao came to report.

"You can deal with it yourself according to the basic principles." Xu Xingxia said without raising his head. His mind now is not at all in the diplomatic aspect. For the envoy from the capital, he was not interested at all. Together with Wang Zheng and others, he is repeatedly exploring and researching alternatives to mine mercury. This is the key to the success or failure of the breech gun, and only his personal participation in all aspects can shorten this exploration and research process as much as possible.

"I see." Zhang Tianhao agreed and turned around.

I don't know what this kid said to the envoy of Beiming, but a few days later, he came again and said to Xu Xingxia: "My lord, the envoy of Beiming, I still want to see you." There are some things that you have to decide for yourself. ”

Xu Xingxia frowned and said, "What kind of conditions did they offer?" ”

Zhang Tianhao said in a low voice: "As long as we stop attacking, they are willing to admit that we have established ourselves as emperors, and they will also help us solve the problem of reputation." ”

Xu Xingxia asked with some surprise: "Admit that we have established ourselves as emperors?" What do you mean? ”

Zhang Tianhao said: "It means that if the Lord establishes himself as the emperor, Yanjing is willing to admit it as soon as possible, and is willing to form a friendly alliance with us." ”

Xu Xingxia frowned and didn't say anything. The Fuwang Party really doesn't have stupid people, and the conditions they offered this time are really tempting. The emperor, presumably, has a fatal attraction for any person. The decisive action of the Fuwang Party was to help Xu Xingxia solve the problem of ascending the throne as the emperor, which was indeed in the hands of the white-clothed army. What's more, such conditions don't require Beiming to spend anything. It's just a rhetorical decree. From a cost point of view, less than a tael of silver.

It is estimated that in Yanjing's view, Xu Xingxia has wanted to be the emperor for a long time. Isn't the purpose of your rebellion and troublesome just to be the emperor? Okay, I'll help you! If Xu Xingxia really wants to ascend the throne as emperor, then what is currently lacking is a name for official accession to the throne and a title that makes sense. Compared with the emperor's honorific title, what is the son-in-law of the Southern Ming Emperor? What is the horse master? Isn't it subservient to others? Wouldn't it be better for me to simply make you emperor and be on an equal footing with me?

How to solve the problem of fame? Naturally, on the Yanjing side, Xu Xingxia was first crowned as the king of the county, and then he was crowned as the prince and the like. As long as Xu Xingxia has the title of prince, the rest of the things will be done. From prince to emperor, only one step away. With the bayonets of the white-clad army, everything is not a problem. This process is obviously smoother than directly establishing himself as the emperor.

If Xu Xingxia becomes the emperor, he will have the same surname as the Northern Ming Dynasty - they are not orthodox emperors. One is a rebellion, and the other is a rebellion and usurpation. Anyway, everyone is not legitimate. In this context, it is easy for the two companies to have a common language and a common goal. And this common goal is naturally the Southern Ming court.

It is estimated that if Xu Xingxia really established himself as the emperor, the Southern Ming Dynasty would also have to turn against Xu Xingxia and would rather die than get along. Otherwise, many things cannot explain the past. You can't only recognize the emperor Xu Xingxia, but not the emperor in Yanjing City, right? If you admit the two of them, wouldn't you deliberately slap yourself in the mouth?

(To be continued)