On this day in February, Yulin was still frozen, and Liu Tingjie had a rare opportunity to make a fire and eat mutton brought from the grassland.
Since guarding Yulin, he, like You Shiwei, has been very quiet and thought of action, constantly sending troops to the grassland, turning passivity into initiative.
Firstly, it was to rob soldiers, and secondly, it was to protect the trade routes for Shaanxi merchants, so as to make some small money and improve their lives.
However, Yulin Town is very special. It is not only adjacent to the grassland, but also borders Shanxi.
As we all know, Shanxi today is under the jurisdiction of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and the relationship between the two is quite subtle.
Shanxi, like Beizhili, fell into the cold weather and did not experience any military disasters, except for the plague in previous years.
Of course, the Shanxi merchants also made great efforts. While they persuaded Datong's general Jiang Quan to return to the Manchus, they also interceded for Shanxi to avoid the destruction of their hometown.
Therefore, the Shanxi merchants preserved their vitality, and even benefited from the emergence of the eight imperial merchants, which monopolized the grassland trade, becoming stronger and doubling their influence.
"General Soldier, Shanxi is willing to offer you one hundred thousand taels of silver, and also promised to make you a Duke!"
Eating barbecue, sprinkled with cumin and salt, Liu Tingjie listened to the words of the returning Shaanxi businessmen.
In order to find out the reality of Shanxi, the trade between the two sides was not stopped.
"Duke?"
Liu Tingjie was stunned, with a look of astonishment on his face: "Weren't you still a third-class light carriage captain last month? This good guy has become a duke."
"Did something happen?"
Liu Tingjie smiled.
The businessman held it in his hands and baked it. When his whole body was warm, he said: "I heard some good news, and the commander-in-chief will also be happy."
"Say it!"
Liu Tingjie couldn't help but said.
"The imperial court won!"
The businessman uttered four words, which were clearly audible.
"The one last winter?"
Liu Tingjie stood up and stretched his neck.
"Yes, although I don't know what the losses were, the Manchu Qing Dynasty was defeated."
The businessman showed joy and said loudly.
"Pah——, no wonder a rising tide lifts all boats!"
Liu Tingjie couldn't help but clapped his hands and said: "With this, the fall of the Manchu Qing Dynasty is just around the corner."
"Because of this, General Jiang from Datong also has his heart set on the imperial court, and he has some evil thoughts."
"Jiang Yu? Doesn't he command the troops in Datong, Xuanfu and other places, and is highly used?"
"You don't know something. He is really in trouble..."
So, the businessman introduced his situation, and Liu Tingjie suddenly realized it.
Jiang Quan first voted for Dashun, and then for Manchu and Qing Dynasties. This kind of low-key approach cannot be trusted at all.
When Azige sent troops to Shaanxi, he not only had to provide money and effort, but also received no benefits. Later, he was still entrusted with the post of commander-in-chief, but the military power was in the hands of Qing general Wu Weihua.
Last year, Azige put down the Khalkha Mongolian rebellion and also mobilized his soldiers and horses, who were more diligent than dogs.
Others include insufficient money and food rations, and so on.
Of course, in addition to his own situation, the changes in the situation between the north and the south were beyond his expectation.
The attributes of the wallflower exploded again, and he wanted to return to his Ming Dynasty.
When the deputy general was called for discussion, the deputy general thought it needed to be taken seriously.
"That's a good idea!"
Liu Tingjie shook his head and said disdainfully: "I'm afraid His Majesty won't be able to tolerate him."
Gu Ai
"Uncle, in the war in Huai'an, many people are afraid that they will have to be promoted to high positions, but you did not participate in it!"
The lieutenant general couldn't help but suggest: "If Shanxi is captured, you will be the vanguard and the commander. Wouldn't it be easy to capture a marquis?"
"You still have to listen to the court."
Liu Tingjie was moved by it, but after thinking for a long time, he decided to turn off the flames and leave everything to the court to decide.
There are countless pairs of eyes in this army staring at him!
Unexpectedly, two or three days later, the imperial edict from Nanjing arrived, stamped by the Chief of Staff.
In a sentence: Order Liu Tingjie and You Shiwei to cooperate with Jin Yiwei, march eastward to Shanxi, and cooperate with Jiang Yu anyway to capture Shanxi.
What followed was more than 10,000 troops supported by You Shiwei.
Facing You Shiwei with a smile on his face, Liu Tingjie cursed in his heart. His good work was divided into half. Who can swallow this breath?
However, the twenty thousand shi of military rations transferred from Xi'an made him relieved.
"The imperial court is preparing to make a big move and take advantage of the defeat of the Qing Dynasty to seize Shanxi and threaten Beijing."
You Shiwei was not nervous. Instead, he took out a large map, pointed at Shanxi and said: "The whole of Shanxi is surrounded by high-rise buildings. If Datong and Taiyuan are captured, the other cities will not be a concern."
"And through Datong, you can pass through the Xuanfu to threaten the capital, and the imperial court will come from the northeast of Shandong and attack from both sides. It will be absolutely difficult for the Manchus and Qing Dynasties to escape."
"I understand that."
Liu Tingjie nodded, showing an unhappy look: "It's enough for you to support the troops. Why are the people here?"
"You must know that Li Zicheng is in Shaanxi Province, and Guyuan is the gateway to Xi'an."
"I know better than you."
You Shiwei smiled, and he couldn't be overjoyed: "In the winter, the snow is three feet thick. Even if you give him wings, he can't get through it."
"Besides, after spending a few stones of food, I asked the Tatars on the grassland to send me messages. At this time, Li Zicheng went south and had no time to come back."
"Nan? Where is he going?"
Liu Tingjie was stunned.
"Hey, there is a shortage of food in the northwest. It is difficult for Li Zicheng to feed his army of tens of thousands. Going further west can only eat dirt, so he went to Qinghai to fight the Tatars."
You Shiwei showed a hint of admiration: "There are tens of thousands of Tatars in Qinghai and the Tumote tribe!"
"Tumote Department?" Liu Tingjie was also shocked: "This is too bold, isn't it? Does Li Zicheng have such ability?"
In fact, as early as the fifth year of Chongzhen (1632), Quetu Khan, the leader of the Outer Khalkha tribe, led his troops to Qinghai and conquered the Tumut and other tribes there.
Subsequently, Gushi Khan, the leader of the Oirat Mongolian Hoshuote tribe, conquered Qinghai and Tibet, establishing the Hoshuote Khanate.
Although the two of them kept talking about the Tumut tribe, it was just out of habit. They were still the same people, but the name had changed.
In other words, the Kashote Khanate is the master of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses.
Li Zicheng is copying his hometown!
"What if I don't fight Tumut?"
You Shiwei shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Further to the west, there is Junggar Mongolia, which is more difficult to fight."
Liu Tingjie suddenly understood, and immediately laughed: "Li Zicheng can't stay in the northwest, and he also wants his emperor to be worthy of his name!"
"If you can't be a Han emperor, you can be a Mongolian emperor. Maybe you want to use Mongolian soldiers to invade Shaanxi!"
You Shiwei sighed: "In short, Li Zicheng will not be able to come back within a year and a half."
Liu Tingjie muttered, Li Zicheng doesn't know how to do human affairs.
You Shiwei was above him in terms of seniority and title, so he should have occupied the main position.
The 20,000-strong army quickly packed up, crossed the Yellow River at the end of February, and marched from the grasslands with the goal of Datong.