"If you want to control the Yellow River, the project is huge and involves many things, so you must consider everything. If you are not careful, the national destiny will be damaged."
When it comes to regulating the Yellow River, Xue Fengzuo came from Shandong and reminded Zuo Menggeng to be careful.
He only thought that Zuo Mengeng saw the tragic situation in the Huaihe River and prepared to carry out large-scale construction on a whim.
Little did he know that Zuo Mengeng was far more aware of the difficulties of regulating the Yellow River than he was.
It is true that this river has brought too many disasters to the Chinese nation for thousands of years.
The history books are brilliant, each one is clearly recorded one by one.
Even four hundred years later, with advanced science and technology, the hidden dangers of the Yellow River have not been completely eliminated.
Without complete assurance, without comprehensive considerations, without sufficient strength, Zuo Mengeng would not dare to act rashly.
Understanding Zuo Mengeng's attitude, Xue Fengzuo breathed a sigh of relief, thought about it and came up with an emergency solution.
"Actually, the floods in the Huaihe River and Huaihe River are not unavoidable. We only need to open the gates on Fanggong Dike to allow the floods to vent, and the disaster can be reduced to a minimum. If the commander-in-chief can subdue the salt merchants in Yangzhou, there will be great potential for this matter."
It’s not that the floods in the Huaihe and Huaihe areas cannot be drained, it’s because some people don’t allow them to be drained.
Because once the gates on the Fanggong Embankment are opened, huge floods will pour into the Lianghuai Salt Fields, harming the interests of salt administration officials and Lianghuai salt merchants.
These people do not care about the safety of thousands of people for their own sake.
Of course, the situation is not that simple.
The salt policy in Lianghuai was not only related to the fiscal and tax revenue of the Ming Dynasty, but also related to the supply of salt throughout the world.
Once the Lianghuai Salt Farm is destroyed, it is conceivable that the price of salt will skyrocket, and the people will suffer the most.
If you want to control the floods in the Huaihe River, you need to consider the great wisdom and ability of the ruler.
Zuo Mengeng fell into deep thought.
Looking at the endless river water in his eyes, he began to collect all the experience and wisdom of his predecessors and descendants, hoping to find a suitable method.
However, this matter was too difficult. He thought about it for several days without any clue.
On the court side, Chongzhen went crazy because of the loss of Fengyang.
"The resting place of our ancestors has been trampled by thieves one after another. How can I stand between heaven and earth? If I don't kill the evil thieves and restore peace to my ancestors, I should commit suicide to thank the world!"
In the court hall, Chongzhen was weeping blood and looked like he was crazy, completely losing his mind.
There was no way, Fengyang was lost and the ancestral mausoleum was destroyed, which was a huge blow to him.
If it cannot be undone, his role as emperor will lose its meaning.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! You humiliated me and I died. I am willing to serve the country with all my blood. I sincerely ask your Majesty to allow me to go south to Fengyang to fight to the death with the traitors."
Zhang Fengyi, Minister of the Ministry of War, made an impassioned speech and regarded death as homecoming.
Not only him, but all the officials were prostrate on the ground, and they all said the same thing.
"I hope that I will wrap my body in horse leather, support the building when it is about to collapse, and protect the safety of the Ming Dynasty!"
Seeing that all the officials no longer behaved like they used to, and asked for battle one after another, Chongzhen couldn't help but feel in a trance.
Are these really the Ming officials he knows who are holding them back?
If these people were as loyal and courageous as they are today, why would the current situation in the Ming Dynasty be like this?
But no matter what, he was quite inspired by the fact that everyone in the court was united.
"Okay! My dear friends, you are loyal, not afraid of honor, disgrace, life and death. This is the character of my Ming Dynasty. Today, my Ming Dynasty will no longer retreat. Even if I die, I will die standing!"
At that time, Chongzhen was prosperous and prosperous. He appointed cabinet ministers Qian Shisheng and Wang Yingxiong, Minister of War Zhang Fengyi, and eunuch Gao Qiqian as imperial envoys to command the 8,000 troops from the Beijing camp southward.
This group of troops will meet up with Hong Chengchou in Guide Mansion, and then march to Fengyang together.
Chongzhen issued strict orders.
Regardless of whether it is the Northwest Rebel Army or the Shandong New Army that occupies Fengyang, they can all be attacked without fail.
Unable to defeat it, the Ming Dynasty collapsed.
For this reason, Chongzhen no longer cared about the empty defense of the capital.
He must get this face back no matter what.
Qian Shisheng, Wang Yingxiong, and Zhang Fengyi stood up and swore blood to fight, and they went out to fight with great courage, showing a kind of heroism that was as windy as the wind and the water as cold as the water.
They set out with Chongzhen's ardent expectations.
Whether the Ming Dynasty can continue or not depends entirely on them.
Chongzhen even wrote famous poems for several of them, praising them as Su Wu and Wen Tianxiang of the Ming Dynasty.
But these imperial envoys had just left the capital, and all of them had exposed their true colors.
"Mr. Qian Ge, no matter how many disputes we had in the past, today, with the situation like this, everyone can see clearly that this battle really cannot be fought!"
Wang Yingxiong had a sad face and spoke softly to his old enemy Qian Shisheng for the first time in his life.
Qian Shisheng's appearance is similar.
"Wangge is mature and prudent, and I am sincere in what I say. We will have long-term plans for this trip south."
This time, even Gao Qiqian, a servant of the emperor, stood with several officials.
"I tell you, gentlemen, think of a solution! The Shandong New Army is so terrifying that we are no match for them. It doesn't matter if we die, the Ming Dynasty cannot be destroyed."
It turns out that the impassioned speeches of all the officials in the Jinluan Palace were just a show.
Everyone could see clearly that because the ancestral tomb was destroyed, Chongzhen could not come to power, so he acted crazy.
At this time, no one dared to persuade Chongzhen to calm down. They could only follow his wishes and shout to kill him.
As for the real situation, no matter which faction the officials were in, they all knew it clearly and knew that Ming Dynasty simply did not have the capital to fight hard.
Wen Tiren, Qian Shisheng and others usually fought to the death, but this time they had to form a united front to fool the emperor Chongzhen.
Not to mention them, the same goes for the eunuchs in the inner court.
Before Gao Qiqian set off, Wang Chengen found him and gave him a stern warning.
No matter what, we must find a way to save Chongzhen's face without resorting to force.
Gao Qiqian can only mean that this requirement is too difficult.
As a result, the Ming Dynasty, which was constantly fighting between factions, was rarely united even when the emperor went crazy.
Eunuchs, Qingliu, and eunuchs all came together to come up with a perfect plan.
Seeing that everyone was unanimous, Zhang Fengyi said: "I have to ask Hong Bingxian how we should handle this matter. He is the only one who knows all the situations best."
Only then did everyone remember that everyone was still in the dark about the situation in Fengyang.
Only Hong Chengchou understood what was going on.
"Then write a letter to Hong Bingxian immediately. Make sure nothing goes wrong."
Several people agreed to immediately send their trusted aides to Guide Mansion to contact Hong Chengchou.
At this time, Hong Chengchou had received the imperial edict from Chongzhen, and he was stunned when he learned that he would use all his strength to attack Fengyang!
In front of him lay tens of thousands of Shandong New Army troops.
Although his main force has arrived, plus Zuo Liangyu's three thousand troops, there is still no chance of victory.
If this battle was lost, the Ming Dynasty would have no useful troops in the Central Plains.
By then, if the Central Plains of China is no longer free for thieves and bandits to come and go, then the Ming Dynasty will really be doomed.
