He knew that this was a serious thief, thinking day and night to steal his world.
To put it bluntly, Chongzhen never felt that Liu Chengzong, Huang Taiji, Lin Danhan or others were his enemies.
In other words, they are all the same rulers. As a dragon among men, which one will look down on others and which one will regard them as opponents?
No one deserves it.
Even they are not worthy of being rivals.
Their opponents are far more powerful than any one of them.
Chongzhen was like a quack doctor. What stood in front of him was not the powerful germ named Houjin, but the old, frail, terminally ill and even rotten body of Ming Dynasty.
The same goes for Liu Chengzong. His opponent is a hungry appetite and hordes of sociopaths around him. He must tie the madman's halter and feed the madman's mouth, and use his crazy brain to direct the madman's legs.
If someone loses his mind and fails to take care of it, Zhang Yichuan will be killed, and people will be killed on both sides of the Huanghuai River.
Zuo Maodi didn't know this, so he mistakenly thought that Chongzhen hated Liu Chengzong deeply.
In fact, Chongzhen hated Huang Taiji.
Because Baqi really kept holding the chisel and chipping away at his Tianling Cap. It really hurt and it wasn’t over yet.
Liu Chengzong was different.
He is still here like a pharmacist, testing prescriptions from one official to another.
Sometimes I had to reluctantly remove two ribs to provide disaster relief in Shaanxi; sometimes I took the wrong medicine and found a handful of arsenic in my hand, causing diarrhea.
But there is no way. As an emperor, regardless of ability, he must try to save his Ming Dynasty and heal the rotten broken leg.
As a result, Liu Chengzong held the saw silently and raised his hand to remove the rotten leg.
Although Chongzhen felt a little sad because he suddenly lost a leg, after the labor pain, he felt much relieved because part of the responsibility on his shoulders was reduced.
In fact, as early as when Zhang Yichuan entered Henan, Chongzhen had secretly sent people to inquire about various miscellaneous taxes of Fu Fan in Su Songchang.
Mainly because of the precedent of Liu Chengzong, Chongzhen underestimated the seriousness of the siege of the vassal state.
I thought that like Su Fan and Han Fan, the princes, princes, princes and even the clan would not die. Those who should run would run away, and those who should surrender would surrender.
Since you have surrendered, uncle will live happily with Liu Chengzong. For my sake, Liu Chengzong will definitely not make things difficult for you.
Not only King Han, but also King Su were still alive and kicking.
I am here to take over your property and create a situation where everyone is happy.
I never thought that Zhang Yichuan, that barbarian, would really kill the county prince if he caught him.
As a result, the news of King Wan'an's death made Chongzhen turn green with fright. He was afraid that he would harm King Fu again, so he quickly asked Zhang Renxue to provide support.
It was not until King Fu's crisis was resolved that Chongzhen remembered that the Shaanxi vassal also had property in the interior. Although it was small, the mosquitoes were still meat no matter how small they were.
Therefore, he ordered the Ministry of Rites to inventory and inspect the real estate of Qin Fan, Su Fan, and Han Fan in the mainland, and prepare to eliminate these three vassals.
Of course, this relaxed and happy mood only lasted for a month.
Starting from losing Shaanxi, Zuo Maodi told him that Liu Chengzong was preparing to become king.
As soon as Liu Chengzong was said to be king, the sense of crisis in Chongzhen's heart emerged uncontrollably.
The emperor cursed in his heart: "What kind of king do you want to be? Why don't you just govern my northwest in Shaanxi?"
His inner feelings towards Liu Chengzong were too complicated.
Envy, admiration, fear, mixed with an indescribable contempt, and the arrogance of having everything under control.
This is actually because he does not know the concept of Shaanxi.
Even when Zhang Yichuan was running around in the hinterland of the Central Plains, he had no idea. He just heard from others that he was getting closer to his ancestral grave.
Just like those emperors who grew up in the deep palace, Chongzhen's country is the map of that place.
No matter how large the territory of Liu Chengzong's Marshal's Mansion was, no matter how wide the scope of Zhang Yichuan's rebel activities were, they could not compare to the shock brought by the Jin army's attack on the walls of Beijing after the Jisi Incident.
What he hates most in his heart is Hou Jin who has always ruined his majesty.
The wars that took place in the world were just money, food, and soldiers' data to him.
That's why some generals lost a battle and killed good people for credit, and the emperor smiled very kindly; some generals who lost a battle were immediately pulled out and chopped into pieces.
The reason is that you came to me for payment, and I got the money from you. The defeat was a painful one.
If people raise their own food and pay to fight a war, the emperor will not feel it if the army is defeated.
For Zuo Maodi, the threat of Liu Chengzong, grinning like an ancient beast with a bloody mouth, was very close at hand, and his communication with Chongzhen was completely like a duck.
Zuo Maodi described Liu Chengzong's terrible side. The army plowed the wealthy households in Shaanxi and divided their fields. Their administrative efficiency and ability to extract people's power were extremely high.
On the contrary, his Hancheng County, due to long-term abuses and wealthy families, could not reach that level despite all its efforts.
When Chongzhen heard these words, he became full of doubts and almost blurted out: If you ask him to send troops to help you plow, won't you solve the dilemma?
Of course, Chongzhen didn't say anything.
Although he had already become emperor, in fact, for Chongzhen, he was just learning how to be an emperor in these eight years.
After all, he is not a prince.
By now he has learned that it is best not to discuss the problem with his ministers. It is enough to just raise the problem and see if the minister has a solution.
If not, ask another minister to come over and let them discuss it.
The emperor could not participate in the discussion. As long as he spoke long speeches, no one could always be right, and there would always be mistakes.
The center of the empire gathers the smartest people in the world, and no one looks down on these bastards because of their intelligence.
If there are any mistakes in the emperor's words, he will inevitably be looked down upon.
He has become much more mature than when he came to the throne, but he is still far from mature for his dying empire.
Even though Chongzhen listened to Zuo Maodi's exaggerated threats, he only saw from Han Cheng that Liu Chengzong could cooperate.
To put it harshly, Liu Chengzong doesn’t bite seamless eggs.
Zuo Maodi never expected that after he tried his best to exaggerate Liu Chengzong's threat, after the duel was over, Chongzhen summoned his first assistant Wen Tiren.
The emperor introduced the latest developments in the Marshal's Mansion to his first assistant, and he started by saying: "I want to prevent the Liu family from claiming the title of king, so I want to make him King of Qin. What does Mr. Ge think?"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Wen Tirenhuanhai has been able to protect himself for thirty years, and he almost couldn't hold his breath at this moment.
Because he didn't want him to call himself king without permission, the emperor rushed to make him King of Qin first.
Your Majesty, are you afraid that his self-proclaimed king's title will sound unpleasant to you, right?
Let’s pick something nice for him first?
But after all, people become wiser with age. Wen Tiren just raised his eyebrows, sat on the chair like an old man, and said calmly: "I am ignorant, but the sage can judge."
This was Wen Tiren's usual trick. As long as the question asked by Chongzhen was of great relevance and had nothing to do with him, he would shake his head and let Chongzhen make his own decision.
He is really a bastard, occupying the position of chief minister and doing nothing, acting like a bastard.
This smart brain will only work full force for itself when it is hurting political opponents.
But there is nothing that can be done about it. The central environment of the imperial court is so virtuous, and the fire of party strife is burning on itself, and it will not work if it does not work at full strength.
Ordinarily, according to Chongzhen's character, he would have been dissatisfied with his behavior and was kicked to prison long ago.
But there is really no way, this person is too comfortable to use.
Chongzhen's empire is just a pile of data that no one can remember.
Wen Tiren's strong memory and quick calculation and his sensitivity to the criminal name Qian Gu ensured that Chongzhen could see his empire at all times.
On this basis, he did not make up his mind on some big and small matters, so Chongzhen held his nose and admitted it, assuming that this was not the chief minister of the empire, but his senior aide.
Fortunately, at this time Yang Sichang came to Beijing to report on his work, and someone who could give Chongzhen advice came.
Chongzhen admired Yang Sichang very much, not because he had any extraordinary military talents, but because Yang Sichang started a household.
Basically, the magistrates of the Chongzhen Dynasty could not escape two experiences.
Either he has deep ability to manage money and food, either he is in charge of food and salary at the local level, or he is in charge of food and salary at the Ministry of Household Affairs.
Or, he scolded Wei Zhongxian.
Of these two resumes, the former was more favored by Chongzhen.
Because he has always been short of money, to the point of being anxious.
Yang Sichang was currently the governor of Xuanda in Shanxi Province. He was summoned by Chongzhen and hurriedly came to the platform to give a speech.
But hearing Chongzhen's idea of conferring the title of king on Liu Chengzong first, Yang Sichang seemed absent-minded and just asked: "Has your Majesty asked Mr. Wen Ge?"
Chongzhen nodded first, then remembered Wen Tiren's reaction to this matter, and smiled and shook his head.
The two of them had a clear understanding of each other. Just by looking at this, Yang Sichang knew that Wen Tiren would not say a word about this, so he turned his head and glanced away angrily.
When he turned around again, he said sincerely to Chongzhen: "Everyone knows it, but they know it but don't say anything! Your Majesty, if you send an angel to carry the royal edict to the Liu family, what will happen if he doesn't obey the edict?"
Yang Sichang said in his heart, Liu Chengzong wants to make you the King of Ming, but he obviously didn't agree to it just because you made him King of Qin.
When the imperial edict of the Ming Dynasty was sent to Tongguan, they circulated it to the ministers and saw it as a joke. After all, they sealed themselves and other things. How can you do it yourself?
"In my humble opinion, the Liu family has never been loyal and moral. This is true for being crowned king, and it is also true for being crowned king. They will inevitably jump to Liangdong and commit crimes."
Yang Sichang shook his head decisively: "Your Majesty must not hope that making him king will bring peace to the northwest."
Chongzhen really never thought about what he would do if Liu Chengzong did not accept the title of king.
When he heard what Yang Sichang said, he thought about it carefully and felt that it was possible.
Liu Chengzong's way of doing things was fair and aboveboard, but he was fundamentally crooked.
Chongzhen felt that he could not save his face, but fortunately Yang Sichang was sincere to him, and he believed that Yang Sichang was a minister with whom he could confide.
After pondering for a moment, he asked: "In your opinion, what should the current situation be like? Should I look at two emperors, one in the south and one in the north, and there is still one who is king in the west?"
Yang Sichang knew that the main event was coming, and he was not a guy like Wen Tiren who only cared about self-preservation.
On the contrary, Yang Sichang did not care even if he lost his life in order to achieve his goal.
He thought for a moment to formulate his words, and after saluting Chongzhen solemnly, he said: "The emperor seems to prioritize peace in the border area, followed by robbing the bandits, and Hanhan in the northwest is of no concern."
"However, the ministers thought that they must be at peace within themselves before they can fight against the outside world. They thought that the general trend of the world was like a human body, with the capital as the head of state, Xuan Da Ji Liao as the shoulders and arms, and the Central Plains as the heart and soul."
"In the current situation, the beacon is burning outside the shoulders and arms, and it is very urgent to take advantage of it; the rogue bandits are causing trouble in the heart, and it is very deep. Of course, those who are urgent cannot slow down the plan, and those who are deep cannot be ignored."
"Now there is poison in the abdomen and heart, ulcers in the internal organs, and dryness of essence and blood. The situation is critical, so I said that we must take care of the inside before we can deal with the outside. I am not saying it slowly and fight the outside. It is precisely because it is urgent to deal with the outside that we have to take care of the inside first."
In fact, Chongzhen didn't like the saying that he should first settle his internal affairs before fighting outside, so he frowned when he heard it.
Firstly, he is impatient and too idealistic; secondly, he is troubled by his poor words.
He always believed that Liaodong was the most expensive place, and the Donglu problem must be solved first. As long as the Donglu problem was solved, the court's biggest expenditure would be gone.
The ideal place is that when the rates and gifts are increased, peace and happiness will be restored in the world, the people will have food to eat and clothes to wear, and the plague of thieves will naturally be eliminated.
With the world under governance, Liu Chengzong had no reason to march eastward.
Chongzhen felt that Liu Chengzong was just a supervising force. Otherwise, why would he have shot so many people, while Zuo Maodi would be fine?
He was Han Han's first choice and a good official certified by Liu Chengzong himself.
People's first impression is very important.
Chongzhen's first impression of Liu Shizi was very good.
This has led to the Emperor still not believing that Zhang Yichuan is Liu Chengzong's subordinate, regardless of Zhang Yichuan's official position as Marshal's Mansion Henan Commander-in-Chief.
That outlaw Zhang Yichuan is completely different from Liu Chengzong's men.
Fortunately, Chongzhen also hated Zhang Yichuan very much now, so he could barely listen to Yang Sichang's words.
He said: "Then what do you mean, do you want to destroy Zhang Zi first, then attack Liu Chengzong, and finally fight the Donglu?"
Zhang Zhi is Zhang Yichuan.
The Ming Dynasty's Tangbao was copied wrongly.
Yang Sichang didn't dare to say anything about this, but he was very speechless in his heart.
It is difficult to serve this emperor, he always thinks things are very simple.
Can't we prioritize things and do them at the same time? They don't want to follow a turn-based system with us.
"In my humble opinion, the Eastern captives, the Northern captives, the Western robbers, and the Southern robbers, to deal with the Eastern robbers and the Western robbers..."
As Yang Sichang spoke, he looked around the pavilion and said, "I hope your majesty will withdraw from your followers."
Chongzhen had no doubts about him. He just thought it was a secret and asked all the eunuchs around him to retreat.
Only then did Yang Sichang say with an emotional expression: "I have been angry about state affairs for a long time, and I have been so greedy that I dare not avoid it even if I insult my reputation and kill myself. What happened today is when I sacrifice my life and reputation to repay my master."
He paused and then said what he was thinking: "Things are bad today and the deadlock is difficult to resolve. I hope your Majesty will negotiate a peace with the bandits from the East and the West!"
"Peace negotiation?"
Chongzhen was immediately furious.
You said you wanted to negotiate peace with Liu Chengzong, but Chongzhen was not in a hurry.
But you want him to negotiate peace with Donglu?
Chongzhen said angrily: "People claim to be emperor on the front foot and treat me as if they are nothing. You are on the back foot and let me negotiate for peace. Yang Sichang, what are your intentions?"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. I know that saying this is the greatest disaster in the world and will make me wonder where I died."
Yang Sichang had already anticipated Chongzhen's reaction, and he clearly said this to risk his life on the fire.
However, he still said it, and his tone became more sincere: "However, at this moment of stalemate, the southern thieves have raised their banners and usurped the emperor's title. They must first lay down a dragnet and destroy them with heavy troops."
"As for the bandits from the East and the West, we need to slow down the attack and attack them slowly. Liaodong can only focus on the defensive, and there is no need to lose elites in field battles. Although we spend a lot of money on food and salary, it is even more difficult for the Eastern Barbarians to resort to military warfare."
"The Western thieves also wanted to guard the dangers of Guanhe River and deployed heavy troops in Shanxi and Henan. When the Liu family became king, they became king. They knew how to be moral and righteous. They suppressed them when they could and coaxed them when they could. War was inevitable, so in the Shanxi area
Fight to the death of several of his battalions, and then try to negotiate peace."
"In order to exterminate the southern thieves, internally organize the army and use military force to increase the material resources of the Central Plains, and unite all the troops to focus on one place; externally, cut off their arms and cut off their branches."
"To the east, Shen Shikui and Chen Hongfan reorganized the navy and sent 20,000 troops across the sea to Korea to assist in defense, so as to prevent the Eastern captives from exploiting the vassal country's money, food and manpower."
"If Liu Chengzong becomes king in the West, his humble ministers will boldly ask your majesty to make Yang Qi king outside the Great Wall. If he goes forward, he will be jealous, cut off his own arms, and fight in separate courts; if he retreats, he will tie Yang Qi's heart and help prevent the invasion of the east and west.
cloud."
Yang Sichang finished speaking in one breath and outlined a blueprint for recuperation, and then looked at Chongzhen expectantly.
His plan is very simple, that is, according to the current situation, he will not fight for what he loses for the time being, and try to avoid fighting on the basis of doing everything possible to preserve the existing territory.
Anyway, when you go out to win a battle in the field and see the field army of bandits from the East and West, you will lose face if you lose at every turn, so you might as well not take the initiative to fight in the battle.
At least for Donglu, if you come, I will defend one city after another; if you don't come, I will negotiate with you for peace. I don't believe that your Eight Banners nobles don't want to enjoy wealth and are not tired of fighting.
As long as you are tired of war, negotiate peace, and do not fight a major war for five years, the economy of Houjin will explode.
The same goes for the Marshal's Mansion. You have become the king, your gang of idiots have been knighted, and you have taken over Xi'an Mansion and entered a wealthy place. Who doesn't want to enjoy it anymore?
As long as peace can be negotiated, there may be a huge change in the mental outlook in two years.
And Chongzhen.
Chongzhen was in huge shock.
"Make Yang Qi king?"
He had never thought about this matter at all, but it was obviously of greater benefit to the Ming court than making Liu Chengzong king.