Compared with the smooth expedition of the Denglai Ming Army, the Guan Ning Army appeared to be much more difficult.
When Shanhaiguan received the order to go out, Sun Chengzong, the governor of Jiliao, sent as many troops as possible and mobilized the Ningyuan garrison to assemble in Jinzhou.
However, the commander of the expedition, Yuan Keli, the governor of Liaodong, had been ill for many days. However, in order to fulfill his wish to personally conquer Shenyang and see the destruction of Jianlu, he said nothing to anyone and forced himself to prepare for the war.
Relatively speaking, the task of Guan Ning's army is simpler. They don't need to fight all the way. Instead, they take advantage of the grassland, go around and penetrate directly into the rear of Shenyang. They can intercept as many Jianlu as they can. It is best to All his efforts were accomplished in one battle, and all the captives were left in Shenyang.
From time to time, coughing sounds came from the study room of the Liaodong Governor's Yamen. Ah Fu, who had just brought the medicine, felt his heart sink. After sighing, he pushed the door open and entered.
Ah Fu was very fast and quickly closed the door as soon as he entered the study. He was afraid that the cold wind outside would blow in and affect his master's condition.
Yuan Keli heard the noise, raised his head, and happened to see Ah Fu's movements. He smiled and was slightly moved, but said nothing and continued to review the logistics and troop mobilization reports.
"Master, the temperature of the medicine is just right. It's time to drink it." Ah Fu reminded him in a low voice as he brought the medicine bowl to Yuan Keli's table.
Yuan Keli didn't raise his head. He looked at the things on hand and said casually: "Put it there. I'll drink it after I finish reading this."
Ah Fu knew the master's habit, so he did not let those maids serve the master. Only he was old enough and courageous enough, and sometimes he would not rely on the master.
"Master, you can only lead the troops to the expedition if you are well!" Ah Fu knew what Yuan Keli's wish was, so he used this as a breakthrough to persuade him.
Sure enough, when Yuan Keli heard this, he looked up and looked at his old servant who was more of a brother than a brother. He sighed in his heart, drinking this medicine can't cure his disease!
But he didn't say anything, he just followed Ah Fu, put down the document in his hand, picked up the medicine bowl, and felt it, it was indeed the most suitable temperature for him.
So, he drank the medicine in the bowl in one breath, then handed the bowl to Ah Fu, took the towel from Ah Fu's hand, and wiped the corners of his mouth.
"Are you relieved now?" Yuan Keli handed the towel back to Ah Fu and asked with a smile.
Ah Fu didn't look relaxed at all. He was silent for a while and then persuaded: "Sir, your cough is getting worse and worse. I... I sometimes don't know whether this medicine is there or not." Use it! Otherwise, we should write to the emperor and ask the imperial doctor to come and take a look again."
After hearing this, Yuan Keli shook his head and objected: "Afu, I have said it many times, please don't mention this again. If the emperor knew about my illness, he would definitely let me go back to recuperate. If so, my wish It can’t be achieved.”
Having said this, he paused for a while, then raised his head, looked at the roof, and sighed a little: "Seeking Taoism and immortality is ultimately elusive. If you live a life without regrets, this life is not in vain!"
Yuan Keli expressed his wish again, and Ah Fu had nothing to say. He sighed in his heart, packed up the medicine bowl, and exited the door.
As soon as he walked out of the door, he heard coughing coming from the room again. He couldn't help but sigh, shook his head, and left the door.
Ah Fu didn't know that in the room, Yuan Keli took out a handkerchief from his arms and covered his mouth to catch the phlegm he coughed up.
After unfolding the handkerchief, the phlegm on it was obviously bloodshot. But Yuan Keli was not surprised at all, because he had discovered it a few days ago, but he had been hiding it from Ah Fu.
If Ah Fu knew that his condition was more serious than he thought, he would be so angry that he might not be able to go to Shenyang.
Thinking of Shenyang, Yuan Keli couldn't help but turn his eyes to the wall on the left. There was a huge map of Liaodong hanging on it. The location of Shenyang on the map was circled with a red pen, which was very conspicuous.
The Jurchens in Jianzhou rose up among the white mountains and black waters, and swept through most of Liaodong in just a few years. The seemingly powerful Liaodong army of the Ming Dynasty was like a paper tiger that could be broken in front of the Jurchens.
Yuan Keli knew that a big reason why Jianlu had risen so quickly was that the Liaodong army was the main force that went to Korea to fight against the Japanese pirates. The losses were so great that Liaodong's army was empty.
Another reason is the corruption and incompetence of Liaodong's military and political bureaucracy, as well as the shameless traitors, which resulted in the remaining Ming army being unable to resist the newly rising Jianlu army.
Over the years, through Wanli, Tianqi, and the early years of Chongzhen, even when he was the governor of Denglai, he did not have an overwhelming advantage over Jianlu. On the contrary, Jianlu's power became stronger and stronger.
Especially after Huang Taiji took over the throne of Nurhachi, he began to pay attention to people's livelihood besides killing, win over scholars, and pay attention to easing the contradiction between Jurchens and Han people, making Jianlu stronger.
But in the Ming Dynasty, no one cared about the rise of the Jurchens. They were still fighting with each other and framed and attacked each other by any means.
All these circumstances made Yuan Keli no longer have any hope for the Ming Dynasty to regain Liaodong.
But just when he retired to his homeland with regrets, a dazzling new star suddenly emerged in the Ming Dynasty officialdom. He turned his hands into clouds and turned into rain. In just a few years, the atmosphere of Ming Dynasty officialdom took on a new look, and all kinds of new things emerged. They appeared continuously. They also reorganized the capital camp and defeated Jianlu. Today, several groups of people have reunited to attack the Jianlu and puppet capital.
If someone had told him these things a few years earlier, Yuan Keli would have concluded that if this person was not an idiot, then he must be a fool.
But now such a thing has indeed happened, making Yuan Keli feel like he is in a dream. Therefore, no matter how bad his health is, he must participate in this war against the captives to make up for the pain in his heart. Pity.
However, Yuan Keli has always been a little strange. He wondered about the origin of Zhongxinghou, wondered why Emperor Chongzhen trusted Zhongxinghou unconditionally, wondered why the chief minister Wen Tiren fully supported Zhongxinghou, and wondered about Zhongxinghou's omniscience. It was strange... Anyway, He had too many strange things in his heart about Zhongxing Hou.
But no matter what, none of this is important anymore. What is important is that this result now makes him very satisfied. At this time, he is grateful from the bottom of his heart that this strange Zhongxing Hou can end this problem in the little time he has left. The greatest wish.
Yuan Keli looked at Shenyang on the map and thought to himself: The Ming Dynasty was suddenly reborn from a desperate situation and regained the invincible military front it had at the founding of the country. I am afraid that the powerful slave chief may not have been defeated!